ATASCADERO - 13 psychiatrists are no longer working at Atascadero State Hospital.
They're among the 600 positions statewide eliminated part of the Mental Health Department's restructuring.
The restructuring plan is not finalized, so more layoffs could be coming.
Department of Mental Health Officials released the following statement:
"Thirteen contracted psychiatrists have left service at ASH during the past 90 days because we have enough psychiatrists on staff to meet the patients' needs.
We now have 30 active treatment units and one psychiatrist for each unit plus a floating pool of 10 psychiatrists to supplement the each unit. This is improving patient treatment and care because it is providing consistency. The psychiatrist in the unit knows each patient and knows how they interact with staff members and the other patients."
