In the four facilities operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services inspected by the Office of the State Inspector General for handling of sexual allegations, staff did not have adequate guidance in terms of identifying the elements that constitute sexual abuse as defined in Code of Virginia § 18.2-67.10. Without adequate definitions and training, staff might not document and investigate reports of sexual abuse and potentially expose patients to harm. That is one of the findings in OSIG’s Unannounced Inspections of DBHDS Facilities for Calendar Year 2021 report. The four facilities are
Commonwealth Center for Children and Adolescents, Central State Hospital, Southeast Virginia Training Center and Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute.
The unannounced inspections conducted by OSIG also found that three of four facilities inspected for public safety compliance had outstanding fire marshal citations that were unresolved. Additionally, nine out of twelve crash carts inspected by OSIG were in compliance with inspection criteria.
“OSIG provided 40 recommendations for corrective actions,” said OSIG Healthcare Compliance Manager Keith Davies. “OSIG will conduct follow-up procedures with Central Office and facilities to determine if conditions have been corrected.”
“The goal of unannounced inspections is to review the quality of services provided to patients at the facilities; make policy and operational recommendations to prevent problems, abuses and deficiencies; and improve the effectiveness of programs and services,” said State Inspector General Michael C. Westfall.
Established in 2012, the Virginia Office of the State Inspector General manages the State Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline; conducts investigations and performance audits of state agencies; provides training and standards for the commonwealth’s internal audit programs; and conducts inspections and reviews of Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services-run facilities and programs.
- Submitted article
