Community Corner

Exploring Issues in Eldersburg: Elopements From Springfield Hospital

Are elopements from Springfield Hospital Center an issue?

, a state operated psychiatric facility in Sykesville is located in the backyard of many local residents.

With bike trails and new businesses in the works for the area, the issue of elopements from Springfield has recently become a subject of discussion.

At a Freedom Area bike trail discussion in October held by Carroll County Commissioner Doug Howard, the topic was brought up by a local resident who said she doesn't think walking access to the Springfield hospital should be made official through a trail that connects to local neighborhoods.

Find out what's happening in Eldersburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

She cited elopements from the mental hospital as an issue of security, stating that local youth and people walking alone may be at danger.

Some individuals at the meeting stated the opposite, saying that elopements from the mental institution are few and far between.

Find out what's happening in Eldersburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The following are the official statistics on elopements at Springfield Hospital Center from The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene:

 

2009

2010

2011

2012

 

Actual

Actual

Estimated

Estimated

Number of patients

282

220

230

230

Number of patient days

99,828

82,415

83,950

84,180

Number of elopements

9

7

6

5

Number of elopements per 1,000 patient days

0.09

0.08

0.07

0.06

Do you think elopments at Springfield Hospital Center are an issue? Should safety surrounding Springfield be something considered when looking at where to put biking trails and new businesses in the area?


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