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Saturday, June 8, 2013

Bear River Mental Health Report

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah, Rich County Commission Meeting. June 5, 2013.  Reed Ernstrom, Director of Bear River Mental Health Services, explained  the updated  2014 Area Plan.  The commission is the mental health authority for the county and therefore BRMH must report to them .   Mandated  services include out- patient service, in-patient services, residential care,  24 hour crisis care, psychotropic medication management,  peer support services, education, as well as other non-mandated services.

Funding comes from Medicaid and is matched by Rich, Box Elder and Cache Counties. Both adults and youth are served.  There is a sliding fee based on a family’s income and they mainly treat low income residents.   BRMH has a psychiatrist, psychologists, therapists, advanced nursing staff and clinical licensed therapists.   They have relationships with Logan Regional Hospital and the State Hospital.  They have adult residential care and availability for transitional patients.  They have a 24 hour crisis line. 

BRMH works with jail inmates; often Rich County inmates with mental health needs are sent to Logan because they have better facilities.  Dr. Ed Redd provides medical services to the jail.   Financing from the Utah legislature has dropped significantly, so BRMH are more dependent on Medicaid.  That means that they cannot serve everyone, as has been done in the past, they will lean toward Medicaid patients and find other options for others.    There are three private psychiatrists in Cache Valley for the rest of the population.  In crisis situations, however, they will take everyone.

 

 

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