By Dave Thompson, PPR

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (Prairie Public Radio) – A consultant hired by a Legislative interim committee to help with a study of acute psychiatric care in North Dakota is recommending a state hospital with 75 to 85 beds.

The committee is looking at building a new state hospital.

Renee Schulte told the committee says it’s not just the number of beds, but the facility will need different types of beds. She says the state hospital has been moving toward specialization of beds.

Schulte says the state right now has an optimal number of beds for acute care – whether it be the state hospital or in residential treatment.

Jason Hagland works with Schulte and told the Committee the regional human service centers do a good job delivering services to the seriously mentally ill population, to support people living in community settings.

But Hagland says they aren’t doing that good of a job at communicating with other providers in the community.

Hagland says the human service centers could help train private providers in dealing with mental illness.