N.J.'s largest public psychiatric hospital has fewer doctors, more patients

PARSIPPANY -- With some patients sleeping in common areas, New Jersey's largest publicly run psychiatric hospital has exceeded its capacity, at the same time a wave of psychiatrists are retiring or taking jobs for better pay in the private sector, according to the hospital's trustee board.

The exodus of psychiatrists from Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital means fewer doctors for more patients.

The doctors who remain "are required to cover the additional patient caseload for extended periods of time -- a situation that is counterproductive to patient care," according to the June 1 letter board Chairman Eric Marcy sent to acting Human Services Commissioner Elizabeth Connolly.

He attributed the problem partly to the Christie administration's decision to close Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital in Hunterdon County in 2012.

Read more: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/06/at_njs_largest_public_psych_hospital_more_patients.html