Burgum tours North Dakota State Hospital, expresses gratitude for vital specialty care provided to North Dakotans

BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Doug Burgum toured the North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown for a first-hand look at its campus and the specialized care and rehabilitative services the hospital provides to people with severe and persistent mental illnesses and substance use disorders who typically cannot be served elsewhere.

The hour-long tour included a visit to three patient care buildings where team members provide inpatient and residential specialized rehabilitative services to patients. The tour concluded with a drive around the entire campus to view all currently utilized buildings and those no longer viable for use.

“Team members at the North Dakota State Hospital are doing heroic work under challenging conditions. For the quality of the care and the safety of the staff, we need to continue exploring ways to replace the hospital and consolidate operations into modern facilities,” Burgum said. “Opportunities also may exist to repurpose newer existing buildings on the campus to improve efficiencies and lower costs for both the Department of Human Services and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.”

Recently, the interim Acute Psychiatric Treatment Committee approved a legislative interim report that recognized the importance of the state hospital and its specialized care services. The report’s recommendations include building of a new state hospital that focuses on delivering intensive specialty services including forensic, courtordered treatment and complex treatment services for patients who cannot be cared for in other facilities due to their intensity of need.

“We are so grateful for the governor’s visit to see the remarkable work our team is doing to help North Dakotans,” said North Dakota State Hospital Administrator Tonya Perkins. “We appreciated the opportunity to not only highlight our work, but also identify the efficiencies and improved care we could offer with a new, modern treatment campus.”

In March 2022, the North Dakota State Hospital received a national three-year reaccreditation for its hospital and behavioral health care and human services programs from The Joint Commission. The hospital has been continuously accredited since 1956.