Shafer is shocked with Aspen Springs decision
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, April 14th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – Umatilla County Commissioner John Shafer says he only received eight hours’ notice before Lifeways issued a public statement that it was shutting down Aspen Springs Acute Psychiatric Hospital.
“It was an absolute surprise to me,” he said. “Aspen Springs had a waiver for 12 months and seven months into the waiver they gave us eight hours’ notice that they’re closing their doors.”
The announcement stated the reason was a shortage of staffing and problems due to the pandemic. Shafer said he wants to know why this wasn’t discussed in advance with the county, who is a mental health provider, and allowed a less dramatic solution than taking away its license as an acute psychiatric hospital.
When the news hit, Shafer said he got offers of help in keeping the hospital in its current status. One person reaching out was Rep. Bobby Levy (R-Echo). Another person who contact Shafer is someone who is not usually heard from in issues affecting Umatilla County. Speaker of the House Tina Kotek (D-Portland) asked what her office could do.
“The speaker was instrumental in getting some COVID relief funds to open Aspen Springs,” Shafer explained. “They offered their services as to what they could do to maintain that as a viable facility.”
Shafer is the commissioner assigned by the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners to oversee mental health issues in the county.
Photo by Cheryl Morrison
