New Baltimore, Mich.-based Harbor Oaks Hospital has proposed an expansion, but community members are pushing back, claiming conditions in the psychiatric hospital are unsafe, according to WXYZ.
The Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration found 76 incidents of assaults on hospital staff by patients since 2013, which local residents attribute to chronic understaffing. Before the hospital looks to expand, these residents argue Harbor Oaks should first address its staffing issues.
"Harbor Oaks as a facility is not functioning properly or staffed properly for the type of patients that they have," said Krista Armstrong, a New Baltimore resident. "And now they’re going to build a new facility, and who knows if staffing will increase?"
Harbor Oaks CEO Sari Abromovich was set to appear at a community meeting on the matter Tuesday but cancelled her appearance shortly before the meeting began.
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