Chatham Judges On Petition To Keep Mental Hospital Open

Judges in Chatham County have joined a petition urging state officials not to close Georgia Regional Hospital in Savannah. The petitions seek a delay in the Department of Human Resources’ plan to close some of the state's seven mental hospitals, move some patients to other facilities, and direct many would-be hospital patients toward community-based mental health care facilities.

The signatures of six Superior Court judges, and judges from State, Recorder's and Probate courts are among more than 10,000 expected to be on petitions for state Senator Lester Jackson to present to the Legislature. Judges and others are concerned the plan relies on community treatment options that are "lacking and uncoordinated."

State to pay $1M in mental hospital lawsuit

State mental hospitals are in the public eye again. Georgia will pay a million dollar settlement over the death of a 59 year old Vietnam veteran… a patient at a state-run psychiatric hospital.

Michael Ernest Webb died after nearly three weeks without a bowel movement. His family filed a claim when state officials did not accept responsibility for his death.

They will receive the money in lieu of pursuing a lawsuit against the state.

The state admits no fault, but it has been under federal scrutiny for what investigators say are dangerous conditions in Georgia’s seven mental hospitals.

In August, the governor unveiled a plan to target the issue.

(AP)

DHR mulling private mgm't of state mental hospitals

Private firms may soon run some of the State’s psychiatric hospital services, according to Department of Human Resources Commissioner, B.J. Walker.

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution says Walker considers the step, quote, “a creative way” to improve the state’s ailing mental hospital system.

DHR officials say Georgia could turn over one of its seven facilities to a private company, and others could be closed down.

However, DHR Spokesman David Noel called the idea only an “exploratory proposal.”

The State is also weighing moving mentally ill criminal defendants to a new facility in Milledgeville, according to the report.

Gov. Sonny Perdue in 2007 signed an executive order creating a state commission on mental health.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of Georgia's mental health system.

Fed report critical of state mental hospitals

State health officials say Georgia's mental hospital system is on the road to recovery. That reaction comes as a blistering report was sent by federal investigators to Governor Sonny Perdue.

The U.S. Department of Justice outlined "critically deficient" conditions at Georgia Regional Hospital in Atlanta. Problems such as continued failures to address fatalities and violence were detailed at the Atlanta facility, with similar problems found in facilities in Rome and Savannah.

The federal investigation was conducted last fall. State officials say since then, 'fixes' to the problems have already begun.

Gwen Skinner heads Georgia's mental health system:

"I think that when you get reports like the one from the Department of Justice, it gives you focus. Because you're getting that kind of information from separate groups of people. It helps you focus on the things that are the most critical".

A mental health panel created by Governor Sonny Perdue just released its first progress report this week. The commission was set-up following the start of the federal probe last fall. Perdue spokesman Bert Brantley:

"Much of what’s in that (Dept. of Justice) letter are things that we have identified, things that we’ve already done--some short-term improvements, staffing levels, equipment purchases, those kinds of things. And then some long-term improvements as well many of which are contained in the mental health commission reports".

A federal lawsuit has been threatened by late July unless the state proves concrete
improvements in its mental health system.

Feds find "critically deficient" problems in state mental hospitals

Conditions at a state mental hospital in Atlanta have been described as "critically deficient" by federal officials. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the U.S. Justice Department found similar problems at two other state hospitals, along with Georgia Regional Hospital in Atlanta. A letter detailing the problems was sent to Governor Sonny Perdue. The AJC says federal officials offered 13 pages of corrective measures. Failure by the state to act by late July could bring a federal lawsuit to force changes.