Report: Psychiatric Hospital Failed to Address Issues

Court Master Daniel Wathen laid out formal recommendations in a progress report issued on Monday

Officials tasked with ensuring that patients at Augusta's Riverview Psychiatric Hospital in Maine are being treated properly say the hospital failed to address staffing and other problems.

The Kennebec Journal reports Court Master Daniel Wathen laid out formal recommendations in a progress report issued on Monday.

Wathen presented some of his findings on Jan. 22 to the Legislature's Government Oversight Committee. The report found that the state hospital had 51 vacancies, 47 of which involve direct patient care.

The 92-bed hospital lost federal certification in 2013.

Among Wathen's recommendations was having mental health workers and other specialists attend treatment team meetings as a way to help address staff turnover.

State health officials have 30 days to challenge the recommendations in court if they don't accept them.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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