The Behavioral Health Care Subcommittee of the Joint Commission on Health Care (JCHC) voted to include the development of a bed-reporting system in its 2006 workplan. The system would allow for real time reporting on the availability of acute psychiatric beds. The need for such a system was identified as early as 2001 thereby, predating JCHC involvement in behavioral health care issues.

JCHC staff convened meetings of a stakeholder workgroup to establish the bed-reporting system parameters. The workgroup ultimately recommended that the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services contract with Virginia Health Information to develop and operate the system. A budget amendment for $50,000 was introduced on behalf of JCHC, in order to fund the development and operation of the proposed bed-reporting system. Funding of $25,000 was included in the approved budget for FY 2008.

On behalf of the Joint Commission and its staff, I would like to thank the numerous individuals, agencies and associations who participated in the workgroup. Workgroup members included representatives of community services boards; private psychiatric facilities; Commission on Youth; Department of Medical Assistance Services; Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services; Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources; Psychiatric Society of Virginia; Virginia Commonwealth University; Virginia Department of Health; Virginia Health Information; and Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.