State investigating Lakeland patient dumping, shelter says

LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — For the 64th time this year, a patient was dropped off from a hospital at Talbot House Ministries on Tuesday, a shelter for the homeless in Lakeland.

“It was somebody that really just wanted to go to detox. Not sure why they were brought here, we’re not a detox facility,” said Talbot House Ministries director of programs Deborah Cozzetti.

Staff worked the phones to find a bed in a detox center for that patient, Cozzetti explained.

It has been an issue all year : hospitals discharging patients and sending them to Talbot House Ministries, many of them from outside Polk County.

“They’re being released from the hospital but they still need some care. The shelters are not set up for that and that’s the hole,” said Cozzetti.

Cozzetti recently visited the U.S. Capital to shed light on the needs of people who are homeless.

She said she met with elected leaders about the need for government-funded recuperation and stabilization centers for people to heal from physical ailments, substance abuse, and/or mental health issues.

The hospital dropoffs at Talbot House have decreased since a spike in late winter and early spring.

Cozzetti said there have been three dropoffs so far in July.

From February through April, there were 18 or 19 every month.

On Tuesday, the same day the patient was dropped off needing detox, Cozzetti said Talbot House was contacted by the Florida Agency of Healthcare Administration (AHCA).

“I had all the data and we sent them the data of the hospital drop-offs that we’ve had so they are investigating,” she said.

According to Cozzetti, AHCA asked about drop-offs from Dade City, without providing the name of a specific patient.

Cozzetti said a patient from Dade City was dropped off on Jan. 28.

AHCA has not responded to News Channel 8’s inquiries about an investigation.

Lakeland police are called when hospital drop-offs occur.

“I’m glad to hear that officials are looking into the matter, and I look forward to seeing what their inquiry reveals. The individuals who are being dropped off in Lakeland against their wishes deserve better,” said Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor in a statement.

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