Full closure of the Parsons State Hospital came closer to reality on Tuesday when Gov. Mark Parkinson announced it should begin steps at reducing its population.
In a letter to Rochelle Chronister, chair of the Facilities Closure and Realignment Commission, Parkinson said he was aware that serving the individuals at the Parsons facility can lead to a better quality of life, but he has concluded that it is not feasible to use the Parsons State Hospital as a site where residents of another closed facility might be consolidated.
“While we can successfully transition some of the residents at the Kansas Neurological Institute (KNI)and Parsons into the community, we cannot transition them all. It will take time to reduce the populations at both facilities to a level that makes consolidation possible,” Parkinson wrote.
He then issued an executive order to begin a phased reduction of populations at KNI and Parsons if effective, could lead to the closure of one institution in approximately three or four years.
Parkinson said he was directing the Secretary of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) to develop profiles of residents so the state can successfully transition those currently served into community services.
The governor also directed the SRS to develop more restrictive admission standard standards, in conjunction with the community organizations, for both KNI and Parsons State Hospital.
While an exact date cannot be specified for full closure at Parsons, he said it would depend upon the progress made in transitioning.