Description
of Services:
Patients'
Rights Advocates provide the following
services:
Investigate
complaints received from mental health clients, their
responsible relative or other interested parties
regarding abuse, denial or punitive withholding of
patients' rights guaranteed under the California Code of
Regulations Section 861.
Provide
information and referral services including distribution
of patients' rights posters and handbooks in the
predominant languages of the community which are posted
or given to patients upon admission to the
hospital.
Monitor
the establishment and use by each designated facility of
a procedure for notifying incoming patients/residents of
their rights (WIC Section 5325 and California Code of
Regulations (CCR) Section 860) in a language, medium or
modality accessible to the patient/resident and report
any violations to County's Mental Health Director or
his/her designee. Monitor each designated facility to
determine that it provides individuals detained on
72-hour holds with the information required under WIC
Section 5157, and that such notification is properly
documented; and reporting any violations to County's
Mental Health Director or his/her designee.
- Target
Population:
All
clients served are recipients of mental services residing
in Solano County. The economic status of potential
clients is secondary to their status as consumers and
county residents. Over 90% of clients served in Solano
County live below the poverty level.
Location
and Hours of Operation:
The
Patients' Rights Advocacy and Training program for Solano
County is operated by Mental Health Consumer Concerns
whose administrative offices are located at 1420 Willow
Pass Road, Suite 120, Concord. Clients seeking advocacy
services can contact an advocate on duty from 9:00 a.m. -
5:00 p.m.. Monday through Friday. Our office also
maintains a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week telephone answering
machine which accepts collect calls.
Staff
members provide advocacy services to mental health
clients admitted to Telecare, California Speciality,
Crestwood, residents of Licensed Residential Care
Facilities, clients enrolled in the various mental health
treatment programs throughout Solano County, as well as
to clients living within the community.
Monitor
each designated facility to determine whether each
patient/resident is also given notification, in a
language, medium or modality accessible to the
patient/resident of other relevant constitutional and
statutory rights. Ensure that the List of Rights for
patients/residents specified by the State Department of
Mental Health remains posted in all facilities where
posting is required pursuant to California Code of
Regulations Section 860 and ensure that all incoming
patients/residents are notified of these
rights.
Monitor
Mental Health facilities, services and programs for
compliance with statutory and regulatory provisions.
Conduct trainings for mental health professionals
regarding patients' rights laws and
regulations.
In
performing the above services, Advocates must take action
to investigate complaints regarding patients' rights
violations within two working days. All complaints not
resolved within five working days are referred to the
County's Mental Health Director or his/her designee.
Complaints which cannot be resolved at the local level
are referred to the State Office of Patients'
Rights.
Linkages
and Coordination with Other Community
Agencies:
Staff
members work in cooperation with other advocates,
attorneys, and mental health organizations throughout
California which enables them to keep continuously
informed of the latest developments in the fields of
patients' rights and mental health. Advocates participate
in the Bay Area Patients' Advocacy Coalition and the
California Association of Mental Health Patients' Rights
Advocates. The State Office of Patients' Rights as well
as Protection & Advocacy, Inc. provide legal and
technical support to patients' rights staff.
