JUNEAU (KTUU), Alaska – The Alaska State Ombudsman published a damning reportThe only state psychiatric hospital is featured in this article. It details how patients treatment plans do not meet federal regulations and the toxic work environment that exists for employees.
An anonymous complaint letter dated November 2020 regarding the Alaska Psychiatric Institute contained 13 specific allegations. This led to the investigation. Adam Crum, Health Commissioner, issued the following statement A lengthy responseThe ombudsmans report was criticized by many people, but he insists that there have been changes.
He stated that it is clear that the work is complicated and difficult. We take these obligations seriously. We thank the ombudsmans’ office for their efforts and role in state governance. However, we feel that the report did not fully reflect the current environment and recognize the improvements and changes that have taken place at API over these years.
Kate Burkhart is the state ombudsman and is skeptical. She says the agency has made general statements regarding how improvements have been made in patient treatment plans rather than providing a detailed explanation.
They claim that things are better. She claimed that the evidence did not support this claim. But, they claimed it.
Gov. The hospital was in dire straits when Mike Dunleavy became governor in 2018. It was close to losing its certification, and it had only 20 staffed beds. It had 55 staffed bed last month.
Dunleavy mentioned API in his State of the State address last week. It was one of the promises that I made when I ran for office. Thanks to our Health Department, we turned this situation around.
Jeff Turner, a spokesperson representing the governor’s office, stated on Wednesday that Dunleavy still stands by his statements about API, despite the issues raised in the ombudsman.
Burkhart claimed that her office Received 163 complaintsThere were 15 reports of harm to API patients in 2021, as opposed to 15 the previous year. The majority of complaints were about patients allegedly harming patients.
She stated that these complaints are received on a continuous basis as part of mandatory reporting requirements, and that the more than tenfold increase in complaints is a sign of concern.
Burkhart explained that the majority of these factors are related to patients’ behavior in the hospital, including whether they are violent or disruptive, self-harming or causing harm to others. This indicates whether the hospital is able provide the care they need to manage their symptoms.
API has made one notable improvement since its inception. An investigation by an ombudsman in the pastIn 2018, the hospital was opened. Burkhart stated that this time, investigators did find no evidence of unlawful seclusion or restraint procedures being used against patients.
She said, “That’s great!” There are still many problems with the planning and treatment for patients. It would be great to see improvements.
Federal regulations establish requirements for patients admitted to psychiatric hospital psychiatric hospitals to receive active and individualized care plans. The ombudsman examined dozens upon dozens of patient records in early 2021 and discovered persistent problems.
According to the report, most patients received cookie-cutter treatment plans. Many were not getting adequate treatment time with qualified medical professionals.
According to the report, 61% of patient records that were reviewed by ombudsman investigators did not contain any reference to psychosocial services provided by licensed providers such as psychologists, mental health clinicians, and occupational therapists.
The report also states that hospital management provided misleading information to staff members and the API Governing Body regarding patient treatment plans, despite them not meeting federal requirements. Clinton Lasley, Deputy Commissioner of Health and Human Services, said that the report is not accurate.
He said that the API Governing Body is fully aware of the need for improvements and has made recommendations.
During the year-long investigation, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and ombudsman’s office collaborated. Lasley states that Burkhart’s findings regarding deficiencies in hospitals’ treatment plans were accepted by the agency and that it has made efforts to make improvements.
He stated that we have taken those issues very seriously in the past year. We worked hard at the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, to make corrective steps to improve those treatment plans.
API staff are also concerned about their work environment. According to the ombudsman, Scott York, the CEO of the hospital, misrepresented that there were no complaints against bullying or discrimination management.
These complaints are confidential, so the specific details of the complaint are not included. However, the report describes that multiple allegations against management were made about bullying and racial/gender-based discrimination.
Lasley stated that the hospital management has made efforts to improve the toxic work environment at API.
We continue to explore ways to improve our hospital’s business operations. He said that they were looking at more than just the patients’ well-being, but also the well-being and health of those who serve them.
Burkhart stated that rank-and file staff are doing their best despite the difficulties at the hospital.
API employs many people who are willing to get up every day to work and provide the best care possible, given the resources and environment they have, she stated.
The report concludes API’s problems are not unique and that nearly identical complaints were investigated by the ombudsman two years ago. Burkhart stated that her office does not have an enforcement arm, and that it is up to the Legislature and the administration to decide what happens.
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