Message from the Superintendent (June 18, 2008)

“You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.”- Woodrow Wilson

Riverview Psychiatric Center would be difficult to confuse with the Augusta Mental Health Institute. Not just because of the 164 years differences in the architecture. It is the approach in healing that you deliver. Riverview Psychiatric Center is a place of healing for those in pain and distress. Close to 225 staff arrive to the facility each day to offer assistance, care and support to those with mental illness. I hope that fact fills you with pride. It does me. The change in care now, as opposed to then, is pretty apparent to anyone looking. Techniques such as the use of restraints, seclusion, and control have been de-emphasized and choice, support, and respect been championed. Look at what the staff have accomplished. No mechanical restraint at all for over the last year on the civil side. Dramatically less restraint on the forensic side. The utilization of seclusion is being replaced by alternative stress tolerance techniques across the hospital. This is not the Augusta Mental Health Institute. It is more then that facility ever was – this is Riverview!

The word “Transformation” has been used across this country to describe the movement from a medical model to recovery oriented systems. That is a great word to describe Riverview’s changes. Staff learning initiatives such as trauma informed practice; a patient-centered focus; a recovery focus; minimization of coercion are all part of this transformation. Health care today is a career of constant learning. Riverview’s staff is constantly exploring new approaches to helping.

People who come to the new hospital are seeking the same things other citizens of Maine seek. A good home. A good job. Academic success. Good friends & loving families. Good health. Riverview focuses on helping people pursue these outcomes.

Dedication to services to those in pain is a tradition carried over form AMHI to Riverview. Today we celebrate 24 staff who have reach milestones from 10 years to fifty years of service! 124 of Riverview Staff have been in public services with the State for over 10 years. Pretty impressive.

In addition, today we celebrate another induction of Riverview Quality Champions. These staff represent the finest qualities of Riverview staff. I thank them and will try to emulate their dedication, passion and joy they express in their work. Please congratulate Sheila Andrews , Dr. Kirby, Colleen Cutler, Dr. Wear-Finkle, Tania Gregor, Carmen Breault, Glenn Carter, Bill White, Sue Vangeli, Holly Clary, Beverly Mairs, Joe Ulrich, and Penny Hill.

Your work here has been recognized nationally in several ways. First the design of the care environment by Health Care Construction and Operations (2006). The National Association of Adult Mental Health Program Directors (2007) utilized Riverview’s tobacco policy as a model for a tool-kit to improve care environments given to all state hospitals in the country. The hospital’s Peer Support Program has been identified by the National Research Institute (2008) as a “model program” and distributed to other state hospitals. Weekly, other hospitals, both private and public, both in Maine and out of State, seek out the policies, procedures, and training that have lead Riverview to end the use of mechanical restraints and other forms of coercion, increase consumer choice, increase service delivery (such as the treatment mall) and integrate consumer perspective in all we do (Peer Specialists Program). Riverview is and will maintain as a Center of Excellence that all of Maine, and all of you, should be very, very proud.

As Always, Thank you for your good work.
In Service,
David S. Proffitt

"We don't know who we are until we see what we can do." - Martha Grimes

Agency information

Message from the Superintendent (June 18, 2008)