Blackfoot Mental Hospital Faces Loss Of Accreditation

The state mental hospital in Blackfoot could be in danger of losing its accreditation due to major cuts in staffing in recent years.

Rep. Fred Wood of Burley, who is also a physician, told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee Wednesday that the cuts are endangering patient and staff safety, but a recent budget proposal for the health and welfare division of psychiatric hospitalization for the next year includes adding back 10 of the positions lost, plus… upgrading some of the facilities.

The budget was approved on a 19 to 1 vote.