HD20 - Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services - Annual Report 2000
Executive Summary: This Annual Report is prepared in response to Chapter 927 of the 2000 Acts of the Assembly. This legislation codified the Office of Inspector General. A portion of this legislation requires that an annual report "concerning activities, inspections, reviews, and recommendations for the General Assembly" be prepared. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS) was established to function as an independent oversight agent offering an additional "safeguard" for a very vulnerable segment of the population. The OIG was designed to monitor and to provide independent clinical evaluation regarding the quality of care as delivered by the mental health and mental retardation state facilities in Virginia. The Mission of the Office of the Inspector General is to challenge the mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse system to provide quality services for Virginians that are consistent with contemporary clinical guidelines and contemporary financial management strategies. The OIG is a brand new office in Virginia State Government. As such, this report relates the structure set up in order to develop a reasonable approach toward this very broad duty. To this end, the first two chapters describe the history of the OIG including originating legislation. The third Chapter outlines the operational activities undertaken in order to maintain this office. The OIG functions with a very small number of staff and modest resources. The professionalism and dedication of our staff, as well as genuine support from Governor Gilmore, consumers and other state officials have amplified the efficacy of this office. The fourth Chapter defines the types of inspections developed by the GIG. This Chapter outlines the numbers of inspections over the last twelve months, and describes the nature of several of the facility specific findings established over the past year. Chapter five outlines some of the challenges facing the entire facility system in Virginia. Reference is made to two major problems facing the long term management of care within these facilities. The final chapter describes several findings of merit and findings of concern that face the public Mental Health and Mental Retardation facility system in Virginia. Findings of concern include issues regarding staffing in many of our facilities as well as ongoing risk of violence and assault. A third finding of concern is the aging infrastructure within the facility buildings. Findings of merit include the continuing successful reduction of seclusion and restraint use in facilities in Virginia. Additionally, facilities in Virginia have made tremendous strides in developing very progressive and exciting psychosocial treatment centers that offer active treatment to inpatient consumers. The third finding of merit that is common throughout the facility system in Virginia is the touching level of compassion and dedication that is displayed by many staff who have devoted their careers to working with the consumers residing within these facilities. In conclusion, I would like to thank Governor Gilmore and the members of the General Assembly for their support over this the first full year of operation for the Office of Inspector General. It is my hope that this report has provided useful information summarizing the Office's activities over the last year. I look forward to the opportunity to serve the citizens of Virginia in the upcoming year. I anticipate another busy year in 2001, and hope that I am able to continue to contribute valuable information regarding the quality of clinical care within the public funded system of mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services in the Commonwealth of Virginia. |
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