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Q&A
Status update on outposted therapeutic units at Bellevue and other facilities
1:34:53
ยท
3 min
Council Member Restler inquires about the status of outposted therapeutic units at Bellevue and other facilities. Dr. Patsy Yang provides updates on the progress and challenges faced in implementing these units.
- Bellevue's unit is complete with a certificate of occupancy obtained in February, but is not yet operational
- The unit at Bellevue has 104 beds and is staffed, but awaiting approval from the Department of Correction to begin operations
- Units at NCB and Woodhall are still in the design phase, with completion estimated for 2027
- Restler expresses frustration at the delays and emphasizes the urgent need for these facilities to address mental health needs of incarcerated individuals
Lincoln Restler
1:34:53
I wanna try and get to a couple more questions if I can.
1:34:56
So I've been laser focused on the outposted therapeutic units.
1:35:03
My recollection is that Bellevue was supposed to be done in '22, then we got it was gonna be done in '23, then it was gonna be done in 2024.
1:35:11
And Patsy Patsy, if I remember correctly, the last time we had you here, we had a quote to the effect of as soon as the units are completed, the city is ready to operationalize them.
1:35:22
So doctor Katz says we're done.
1:35:25
The units ready.
1:35:26
Where are the people?
Dr. Patsy Yang
1:35:30
So as doctor Katz said, for Bellevue, health and hospitals did bring it in.
1:35:35
We were just a couple of weeks late.
1:35:38
We have our certificate of occupancy.
1:35:40
Great.
1:35:41
Construction is completed.
1:35:42
It's a hundred and three people?
1:35:44
Hundred and four.
Lincoln Restler
1:35:44
Hundred four beds.
Dr. Patsy Yang
1:35:47
CHS has its staffing pattern in place.
1:35:49
With sufficient notice to our staff.
1:35:52
We're ready to move with our patients.
1:35:54
What is DOC saying?
1:35:56
We are working with the Department of Correction and the administration as to when the unit could actually be operational.
1:36:02
Could
Lincoln Restler
1:36:03
you just tell me again exactly when did you get the certificate of occupancy?
Dr. Patsy Yang
1:36:06
February, this last month.
Lincoln Restler
1:36:07
February, so last month?
Dr. Patsy Yang
1:36:08
Yeah.
1:36:09
Last month.
Dr. Mitch Katz
1:36:09
So we
Lincoln Restler
1:36:09
are just waiting.
Dr. Patsy Yang
1:36:10
Yep.
1:36:10
We we finished construction in January and DOB issued the occupancy certificate.
Lincoln Restler
1:36:16
And help me at Bellevue and NCB, which thanks to leadership from yourself and deputy mayor, at least for now, and William Zysom, we were able to get the therapeutic outposted units back on track at NCB and at Woodhall.
1:36:32
Are those moving forward?
Dr. Patsy Yang
1:36:34
So NCB and Woodhall, the administration gave us the approval to restart last year.
UNKNOWN
1:36:41
Okay.
Dr. Patsy Yang
1:36:42
And the status of those two projects, are health and hospitals accelerating to bring them both in on time together.
1:36:51
And the the last estimate was 2027.
1:36:55
We are in design.
1:36:56
We are awaiting feedback from the Department of Correction as to design.
1:37:02
Once that final approval of design is is received, then health and hospitals can proceed with the contracting for construction.
Lincoln Restler
1:37:11
We still don't have design resolved.
James Cassidy
1:37:13
We do not.
Lincoln Restler
1:37:14
In 2025.
Mercedes Narcisse
1:37:15
We do not.
Lincoln Restler
1:37:15
That means we're not gonna achieve 2027 completion.
1:37:18
So we're already off track of the announcement from this past year.
Dr. Patsy Yang
1:37:21
Construction is estimated to take about twenty five months.
1:37:24
That's after we get contractors in place and that cannot happen until we have a document
Lincoln Restler
1:37:30
It's a stain on our city that Rikers is the third largest psychiatric facility in the country, the largest in the state.
1:37:38
There are people who have critical acute medical needs that should be served in health care settings.
1:37:44
We are should have 350 beds available to them.
1:37:47
We have a hundred and four that are sitting empty today at Bellevue, and instead those people are rotting in Rikers Island.
1:37:53
And so mayor Adams, who I don't always agree with, has spoken eloquently about the need for these facilities, about the need for more mental health beds for the people who are in DOC care, the need for exactly this model.
1:38:11
And we need leadership at city hall to tell DOC to do their jobs.
1:38:16
It's incredibly disappointing to hear that we're encountering further delays on a model that we've all that is fully funded, that is ready to go.
1:38:24
It just doesn't make any sense.
1:38:27
Chair, can I ask one more question?
1:38:28
Or you need me to go?
1:38:29
I'm done.
1:38:30
That's it.
1:38:31
One question.
1:38:31
Thank you.