Press release [Oct. 20, 2009]

Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities
Frank E. Shelp, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner
- Office of Communications
Two Peachtree Street NW, Suite 22.365, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3171 404-657-2254

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 20,2009

PRESS RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Tom Wilson, 404-463-7649 thwilson@dhr.state.ga.us

TEAM OF SPECIALISTS TO BOOST EXPERTISE IN STATE HOSPITALS
ATLANTA -- The state agency ir, c h ~ r g eof Georgia's psychatric hospitals is bringing in more than two dozen clinicians, experts, and trainers to dramatically boost the expertise available in those facilities. The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) is contracting with a team of experts to provide specialized skills, improve professional standards of care, and standardize procedures across all seven hospitals. The first of those experts began assisting at Central State Hospital in Milledgeville last week.

"As I've toured each of our state hospitals, it's become clear that we're not only understaffed, but that we lack the depth of expertise that should be present in every facility," said DBHDD Commissioner Frank Shelp, M.D., M.P.H. "Although we're building that expertise internally, it would take us a year or more to get to what we consider an adequate level. That's why we're bringing in this team of clinicians and trainers to help make immediate improvements while we solidify our own expertise."

Thc : e m of experis will i~clucfepsychologists, psychiatrisis, nurses, anci speciaiists in critical fields such as suicide prevention, choking and aspiration, patient-on-patient assaults, discharge planning, treatment, and rehabilitation. DBHDD has recruited a project manager to lead the team who has experience working with state mental health systems to address issues surrounding the civil rights of patients in institutional care. The team's immediate task will be implementing training and procedures that will improve the safety of hospital consumers.

"During the first hundred days of DBHDDYsexistence, we've focused on getting the right people, processes, and technology in place," said Commissioner Shelp. "This team of experts will make an immediate difference in all three of those areas."
###