COOS BAY, Ore. – The looming closure of the behavioral health department at Bay Area Hospital has Coos Bay residents concerned.

They say with recent acts of violence across the country, the timing of the hospital’s announcement couldn’t be worse.

“We have so many mental health issues going on here in Coos County, and we were already struggling to help them, and now where are they going to go?” asks Brittany Dooley.

Dooley left her job as a CNA in the medical care unit at Bay Area Hospital in April of last year. She says working conditions took a toll on her mental health.

“We were so short staffed all the time. I was constantly being called on my days off.”

Those conditions could increase with the release of 56 contracted staff along with an ongoing volunteer shortage at the hospital, but hospital officials said in a statement Wednesday that the decision came in response to loses due to the high cost of contracting with transient personnel and fewer surgical services being performed as a result of the pandemic.

The hospital cited a higher need to fill open positions quickly to maintain access to care during that time as a significant reason for increased costs.

One former staff member, who spoke with me on condition of anonymity due to signing a non-disclosure agreement with the hospital, says her concern is for her community.

She said, “To run their staff off due to the mandate instead of standing up and fighting the fight – then to replace those staff members with incredibly expensive traveling nurses is just bad business. But then to make up for that poor choice by taking away what little bit of help this community so desperately needs is sick and twisted.”

Coos Health and Wellness, which partnered with Bay Area Hospital during the county’s efforts against COVID-19, was blindsided by the decision.

Dr. Eric Gleason, deputy director of Coos Health and Wellness, says the decision came as a surprise to them. He says they’ll have to assess the impact of the decision as an organization before he can comment.

The hospital says it has spent $19 million since September of 2021 to cover the additional labor costs.