Each Thursday, we put one of our local newsmakers On The Spot. This week: Cayuga County Legislature Chairman Roger Mills
Your question that things have not turned around quickly at the mental health clinic is perhaps a matter of perspective. Many things have changed since the beginning of the 2008 legislative term.
Our clinic Monitoring Outcome Report for the period from Sept. 3, 2007 to Sept. 25, 2007 listed 11 citations. A number of the citations were labeled as repeat citations. While being cited for any violations is unacceptable, the recent report listed only three violations with comments that plans of corrective action were being implemented.
Of the original 11 citations, three related to structural deficiencies in the clinic located in the Historic Post Office. Short-term solutions have been undertaken to replace carpets, improve ventilation, remove peeling paint, enlarge and separate waiting area for children and adults, and provide fire egress from back offices. The permanent solution, since our North Street clinic is in need of substantial renovation anyway, is to expand the building and locate all mental health services in one place. An architect has been hired, with construction scheduled to start by October.
The remaining eight original citations have been classified as “quality of care” deficiencies. These have been addressed in a number of ways. We have reached out with regular meetings with the community services board leadership to actively assist and advise the Legislature in the evaluation and delivery of patient care.
We found that having our mental health clinics spread over three locations is very inefficient. Clinical policies and procedures were not consistent. Data collection has been streamlined so internal controls for improving quality services become part of routine operations. The level of supervision has been increased with expanded training and leadership development for our program directors.
Many services were provided by mental health professionals on a contractual basis. Some contractors were determined to provide services in a manner more appropriately as an employee and have had their position changed. This will allow more direct training and supervision. The remaining contractors will also be more closely supervised with a strengthened quality control program to assure the timely completion of clinical records.
The mental health staff, the community services board and the county Legislature remain focused on serving the needs of our mental health consumers. Despite the troubled past, we are committed to providing the best possible services in the future.
If you have an On The Spot question, call news editor Mike Dowd at 253-5311 ext. 234 or
e-mail michael.dowd@lee.net
Our clinic Monitoring Outcome Report for the period from Sept. 3, 2007 to Sept. 25, 2007 listed 11 citations. A number of the citations were labeled as repeat citations. While being cited for any violations is unacceptable, the recent report listed only three violations with comments that plans of corrective action were being implemented.
Of the original 11 citations, three related to structural deficiencies in the clinic located in the Historic Post Office. Short-term solutions have been undertaken to replace carpets, improve ventilation, remove peeling paint, enlarge and separate waiting area for children and adults, and provide fire egress from back offices. The permanent solution, since our North Street clinic is in need of substantial renovation anyway, is to expand the building and locate all mental health services in one place. An architect has been hired, with construction scheduled to start by October.
The remaining eight original citations have been classified as “quality of care” deficiencies. These have been addressed in a number of ways. We have reached out with regular meetings with the community services board leadership to actively assist and advise the Legislature in the evaluation and delivery of patient care.
We found that having our mental health clinics spread over three locations is very inefficient. Clinical policies and procedures were not consistent. Data collection has been streamlined so internal controls for improving quality services become part of routine operations. The level of supervision has been increased with expanded training and leadership development for our program directors.
Many services were provided by mental health professionals on a contractual basis. Some contractors were determined to provide services in a manner more appropriately as an employee and have had their position changed. This will allow more direct training and supervision. The remaining contractors will also be more closely supervised with a strengthened quality control program to assure the timely completion of clinical records.
The mental health staff, the community services board and the county Legislature remain focused on serving the needs of our mental health consumers. Despite the troubled past, we are committed to providing the best possible services in the future.
If you have an On The Spot question, call news editor Mike Dowd at 253-5311 ext. 234 or
e-mail michael.dowd@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are 2 comment(s)
craigsman wrote on May 22, 2008 6:27 AM:
excnyer wrote on May 21, 2008 1:12 PM: