El Dorado County Grand Jury 2013-2014 Placerville Psychiatric Unit Health Facility Case Number Gj-13-08

Recommendations 4

• R1
  The recently increased physician time with patients should be maintained.
• R2
  Investigate staff turnover rates; review adjacent area compensation levels and other retention tools as needed.
• R3
  County Health and Human Services should focus on providing local placement, in the form of board and care residences, for patients in need of further supervision after being discharged from PUHF. RESPONSES Responses to both findings and recommendations to this Report are required by law in accordance with California Penal Code §933 and §933.05. Address responses to: The Honorable Suzanne N. Kingsbury, presiding judge of the El Dorado County Superior Court, 1354 Johnson Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. This Report has been addressed to the El Dorado Department of Health and Human Services for review and response, and provided to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors. The Presiding Judge of the El Dorado County Superior Court additionally requests that the responses be sent electronically as a “Word” file or “PDF” file to facilitate the economical and timely distribution of such responses. Please email responses to the El Dorado County Grand Jury at: [email protected]
• R10-13
  days at the facility before being discharged. At the time of discharge patients are referred to the Placerville out-patient facility, or if deemed necessary, to involuntary residential facilities. Otherwise, they are returned to health facilities in their original counties of residence. The Medical Director is a full-time psychiatrist who sees patients every week in individual sessions that last up to 30 minutes. Staff includes a program director, program coordinator, 8 full-time and 3 part- time nurses, 2 therapy clinicians, a cook assisted by nine para-professional mental health assistants who work on a rotating part-time basis, and 2 office administrators. Twenty-four hour staff coverage is needed. Programs include group therapy, creative arts, coping skills, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. FINDINGS 1. The facility appears to be well managed. The engaging program manager is well informed regarding all aspects of this facility. 2. Per staff comments, nurse and especially psychiatrist retention has been a problem due to compensation differentials across the region. 3. An additional psychiatrist has recently been added for a full day on Fridays, as well as another doctor 2-4 hours during the week. 4. When patients are released from PHUF, there is a shortage of transitional housing destinations RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The recently increased physician time with patients should be maintained. 2. Investigate staff turnover rates; review adjacent area compensation levels and other retention tools as needed. 3. County Health and Human Services should focus on providing local placement, in the form of board and care residences, for patients in need of further supervision after being discharged from PUHF. RESPONSES Responses to both findings and recommendations to this Report are required by law in accordance with California Penal Code §933 and §933.05. Address responses to: The Honorable Suzanne N. Kingsbury, presiding judge of the El Dorado County Superior Court, 1354 Johnson Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. This Report has been addressed to the El Dorado Department of Health and Human Services for review and response, and provided to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors. The Presiding Judge of the El Dorado County Superior Court additionally requests that the responses be sent electronically as a “Word” file or “PDF” file to facilitate the economical and timely distribution of such responses. Please email responses to the El Dorado County Grand Jury at: [email protected]