Northam limits bed of last resort rule for state hospitals
Virginia’s overcrowded state psychiatric hospitals will no longer have to serve as beds of last resort once they reach 100% of their capacity, Gov. Ralph Northam ordered Tuesday.
The order is meant to ease pressure on the facilities as they try to deal with the COVID-19 epidemic.
Last month, state health officials reported that six of the state’s eight hospitals for adults are operating at more than 100% of capacity. Eastern State’s geriatric unit was at 115%.
Traditionally, state hospitals considered themselves operating at capacity when 85% of beds were occupied.
