About the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo
The Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP) is a 516-bed acute care psychiatric hospital that provides inpatient behavioral health services for adults, adolescents and geriatric patients. CMHHIP is a high-security forensic hospital that serves individuals with pending criminal charges who require evaluations of competency, individuals who have been found to be incompetent to proceed (restoration treatment), individuals found to be not guilty by reason of insanity by Colorado's criminal courts and civil patients.
Patients' families, friends and loved ones are encouraged to visit and maintain relationships with patients while hospitalized.
CMHHIP is located in southern Colorado on a 300-acre campus. As one of Pueblo's largest employers, we offer career opportunities in many multi-disciplinary professions, including nursing, psychology, social work and medicine. CMHHIP is accredited through the Joint Commission.
We are hiring
The Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo is currently hiring for several positions, including nurses, client care aides (CNAs), health care techs, social workers, dining staff and more.
- Mission, vision and values
Mission: We deliver exceptional mental health care for Colorado's forensic, geriatric and adolescent patients, in an environment that is safe for patients and staff.
Vision: At CMHHIP, we aspire to improve the quality of life for our most vulnerable populations in Colorado by advancing the best practices in behavioral health care.
Values:
- Physical and Emotional Safety
- Trust and Respect
- Camaraderie and Teamwork
- Empowerment
- Shared Leadership
- Acting with Intent
- Learning
- Contact information
1600 W. 24th St.
Pueblo, CO 81003
Main Phone:719.546.4000
Admissions:719.546.4406
Media: 719.320.2266
Staff Education: 719.546.4339
Human Resources: 719.546.4611
Medical Records: 719.546.4184
Patient Representative: 719.546.4034
Purchasing: 719.546.5009
Volunteer Services: 719.546.4388
Crisis Services: 1.844.493.TALK (8255) or visit Colorado Crisis ServicesFor providers looking for forms related to CMHHIP admissions, visit the Mental Health Emergency Hold page.
- Admissions
For providers looking for involuntary commitment forms, please visit the Involuntary Mental Health Treatment page.
The Colorado Mental Health Hospitals do not provide “shoppable” services as defined in Section 2718(e) of the Public Health Services Act. ‘Shoppable service’ means a service that can be scheduled by a health care consumer in advance.
For additional information on how to refer someone to the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo, please call the Admissions Department at 719.546.4406.
- Civil adolescent transfers
If you know someone who may be at imminent risk of danger to themselves or others, or gravely disabled please dial 911 or take them to an emergency room for proper evaluation.
CMHHIP provides inpatient treatment services for adolescent inpatients who emergency room professionals or law enforcement has identified to have a mental health disorder, and as a result of that disorder are currently an imminent danger to self, others or gravely disabled per Title 27 Article 65, Colorado Revised Statutes (referred to as civil patients). The Adolescent Behavioral Treatment Unit (ABTU) has ten beds dedicated to adolescent patients meeting these criteria.
Transfers:
CMHHIP will accept patient referrals from a transferring hospital if they have an emergency medical condition that requires inpatient psychiatric care pursuant to Title 27 Article 65, Colorado Revised Statutes, in a high-security setting, when CMHHIP has the capacity and ability to treat the individual under the following conditions:
The ability to provide patients with the most appropriate level of care is the primary goal when accepting referrals. To ensure this standard, CMHHIP requires the following steps be completed before the transfer of a patient.
- A written request for transfer from the individual or person legally responsible for the individual acting on the individual's behalf indicating the reasons for the transfer request and that the requestor is aware of the risks and benefits of the transfer including that the individual and/or guardian is requesting transfer to a high-security hospital serving forensic patients ordered to the hospital by the court and that there currently is no way to separate civil patients from forensic patients.
OR
- Certification by a Physician:
- The referring hospital must ensure all transfers are conducted according to state and federal laws including 42 CFR section 489.24(e)(1)(ii)(A)-(C) and in accordance to Title 27 Article 93 Section 106.
- The transfer request is to the least restrictive level of care, indicating that the geographic location, current healthcare provider and pay type (e.g. type of insurance or lack thereof) are not the primary determining factors in whether an individual has access to a civil inpatient bed.
AND following the submission above:
- A call from the transferring hospital to the CMHHIP Admissions Director or designee at 719.546.4406 who will either confirm acceptance or deny the request.
Patients with these primary diagnoses are not appropriate referrals for admissions or transfers:
- Eating disorders
- substance / alcohol intoxication or withdrawal
- Mental disorders due to general medical conditions
- Austism spectrum disorder
- Brain injury
- Developmental diability
- Dementia
- Medical conditions and/or the intensity of treatment required interfere with or preclude psychiatric care or participation in a psychiatric program
Admissions transfer and contact information:
To begin the process for admissions/transfer or it you have questions please send a request or email to the CMHHIP Admissions team at cdhs_cmhip_admissions_referral@state.co.us.
Interstate transfers:
If you are a state-operated psychiatric hospital outside of Colorado requesting an Interstate Transfer via the Interstate Compact Agreement please have your interstate compact coordinator contact our interstate compact coordinator, Samantha Garrett, at samantha.garrett@state.co.us.
See Interstate Compact Coordinator Directory for more information.
- A written request for transfer from the individual or person legally responsible for the individual acting on the individual's behalf indicating the reasons for the transfer request and that the requestor is aware of the risks and benefits of the transfer including that the individual and/or guardian is requesting transfer to a high-security hospital serving forensic patients ordered to the hospital by the court and that there currently is no way to separate civil patients from forensic patients.
- Services Available
A patient arriving at CMHHIP will be placed in the most appropriate admissions unit and will receive the most appropriate treatment offered in the least restrictive setting possible during their inpatient stay. Treatments are adapted for the patient's needs and may include a combination of many of the listed treatments offered.
Comprehensive assessment, diagnosis and evaluation Family Education Individual Therapy Substance Abuse Treatment Group Therapy AA; NA Couples and Family Therapy ITP Proficiency Activities Recreational Therapy ITP Proficiency Treatment and Groups Occupational Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Music Education and Therapy Dialectical Behavior Therapy Medication Management and Education Skill acquisition and generalization (anger management) Nutrition and dietary assessment and services Psychosocial Rehabilitation Academic Education Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) Medical and Physical health management Cognitive Rehabilitation Vocational Rehabilitation Life skills and vocational training Community Resource Education Sex offender assessment and treatment Patient Education - Security levels and unit information
CMHHIP has five security levels available to meet the needs of it's patients including:
- Low Security: Units feature unlocked doors and are unmitigated
- Intermediate Security: Units feature locked doors and are located outside of the Hawkins Building
- Medium Security: The building/unit features two locked doors and a fence, or may be an admissions unit outside of the Hawkins Building
- High Security: The building features a sally port. Staff, visitors and patients are admitted in/out of the building by security personnel
- High Security Specialty Services: Units within high security buildings that serve patients at all levels of security up to and including high security
Careers
We want you on our team. The Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo has multiple positions to fill, including registered nurses, client care aides (full-time and part-time), and health care technicians (LPN or LPT). Check out our current openings.