Milwaukee County has reached out to the provider that’s proposed to take over its inpatient psychiatric hospital in light of a report alleging that a “culture of violence flourished” at an Alabama facility managed by the company.
Buzzfeed published a story Nov. 11 based on interviews with former staffers, patients, families and surveillance video alleging that workers assaulted patients at Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services, a 219-bed facility in Alabama. Hill Crest is owned by Universal Health Services, which submitted a proposal to take on Milwaukee County’s inpatient hospital on Nov. 6.
Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division Administrator Mike Lappen called the recent report on the Alabama facility “a difficult story.” He said that Milwaukee’s hospital is “very different” as it has higher staffing ratios and oversight.
The county’s Mental Health Board has spent two years evaluating the provider and plans to require “robust oversight” in the proposed facility, he said.
“We have reached out to UHS to understand what’s behind the claims against the Alabama facility and what they’re doing to prevent future problems in all of their facilities,” Lappen said in a statement. “We believe a partnership with UHS will help us meet the growing need for exceptional behavioral healthcare in Milwaukee County, but we have to be confident in every element of this partnership.”
Lappen added that UHS has some of the highest rated facilities in the country.
Hill Crest said in a statement that Buzzfeed’s report was based on “unrepresentative accounts” that “are incomplete, inaccurate and misleading.”
Facility CEO Steve McCabe added that “isolated, regrettable incidents do occasionally occur.” In those cases, they conduct investigations, report to appropriate agencies and family members and either retrain or discipline staff, he said.
Joy Tapper, executive director of the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership, trusts the county’s vetting process. “I really believe the Mental Health Board is going to scrutinize this very fully,” she said.
Barbara Beckert, Disability Rights Wisconsin Milwaukee Office Director, said they’re following up with contacts and organizations in Alabama to get confirmation and additional information.
“The pattern of abuse and neglect that are documented in the investigation are very disturbing and raises for us serious concerns about the quality of care and oversight provided by UHS at this facility,” she said. “I was very upset by what I read.”
UHS is the last vendor left in the process the county is using to outsource inpatient and emergency psychiatric care provided at its Mental Health Complex.
Last month, members of the county’s Mental Health Board said they expected UHS to propose taking on inpatient services but not emergency services.
The county and UHS did not say whether the proposal includes emergency services in their statements. The board’s task force charged with studying the outsourcing of services is scheduled to meet Dec. 7.
“UHS is pleased to have an opportunity to partner with the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division to provide high quality behavioral health services to the residents of Milwaukee and the surrounding area,” the health system said in a statement. “UHS has continued its discussions with stakeholders regarding the needs of the community.”
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