Mental Health System Straining A Year After Irene

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Recent reports have detailed how psychiatric patients are
waiting for days in emergency rooms to get care. Vermont’s
mental health care system has been short of available beds for patients with
mental health issues since the closure of the state hospital in Waterbury
due to Tropical Storm Irene. The state, meanwhile, is trying to open new beds
to fill the need while the replacement for the state hospital is built. 

We talk with Mental Health Commissioner Patrick Flood for an
update on how the state is coping and when new beds will come online to
alleviate the situation.

Also in the program, Vermont has the second oldest population in the country but ranks at the bottom in using Hospice. The Visiting Nurses Association along with Hospice and other home health organizations have started a program called "Start the Conversation" to help families discuss end-of-life care. Christine Warnake of the VNA of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties discusses the program.

And we dip into our listener mailbag for your comments.

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