Officials support plan for psychiatric services

By D.A. WILKINSON

wilkinson@vindy.com

LISBON

The Columbiana County Commissioners have given their support to Salem Community Hospital’s plan to increase psychiatric services. The hospital is asking for $74,275 in funds to continue development of those services.

Commissioner Penny Traina said Wednesday, “No county funds are involved in the project.”

The commissioners’ letter of support will to go to the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association in Cambridge, Ohio, which helps organizations get funds for a wide variety of projects.

The proposal calls for a Partial Hospitalization Program and an Intensive Outpatient Program that would fill the gap between the mental health services now provided in the area and more costly inpatient psychiatric treatment that is not offered locally or not easily accessible to area residents.

The PHP is the highest level of outpatient psychiatric care and offers treatment five days a week for up to four hours a day. The IOP provides services one to three times a week.

The commissioners said that the program would offer a higher level of care that can be offered in a psychiatrist’s office or a mental-health center.

According to the commissioners’ letter, if the project is approved, six staff members would be hired.

Michelle Hoffmeister, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said of the program, “It’s in the development stage.”