Process to evaluate privatization
The Department of Mental Health, Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services, and the Facilities Operations Team will begin a process to explore the potential for privatization of acute care services. The administrative leadership of the department and its acute care psychiatric hospitals will meet over the next two months to establish a process for starting this evaluation. The announcement to look into privatization was made at the June Mental Health Commission meeting.
The evaluation process will focus on whether privatization will provide opportunities to enhance access and services for consumers. "We intend for this to be an open and informed process driven by data and input from consumers, families, staff and other key stakeholders," said Diane McFarland, director of the Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services.
McFarland said the evaluation process will take from 6 months to one year to complete. If a decision is made to pursue privatization of one or more hospitals, that implementation will probably take multiple years to complete.
The Department will provide additional information as it becomes available.
