Message from the Superintendent (July 18, 2008)

“We create the world in which we live.” - Cyril Connolly

First I need to say happy National Therapeutic Recreation Week to all rehabilitation staff. I have a special kinship with you. That is were I first learned about serving others. Thank you for all you do.

Also, I want to say a special thanks to Angie Newhouse, Jeff Freeman, Cindy Michaud, and Patrick Cote for developing a special training event for Riverview and the community. “Managing the Behaviors of the Violent Patient”, will be hosted here on the 15th of August. Gary Drye from Mendota Mental Health Institute in Wisconsin will be providing the training. Although, statistically, Riverview is safer now then at any point in the recent past, this is a training we are undertaking to continually enhance the staff safety here at Riverview. Some may ask is this appropriate expenditure when our funding has been reduced? Shouldn’t we be putting our resources solely on patient care… you know … “Patients First”.

Well here are a couple of thoughts. I agree with the AMA principles of Medical Ethics which states;” regard responsibility to the patient as paramount.” But sometimes that means staff come first. Let me explain.

If staff are not completely safe, clients are not completely safe. WE need to ensure that Riverview becomes an injury free work site. Not so much for our staff (although that is an important reason) but because we will never be the best health care provider until all clients are completely safe – and that goal demands our staff to be safe!

I don’t mean that we should come first in a personal, narcissistic sense. Our priority should not be how much money we can make off our clients or how much renown we can achieve. No, I mean that everything possible should be done to help staff become as skillful as possible. I also mean that our own mental health must become a priority. Not putting ourselves in dangerous situations with clients and ensuring a thoughtful approach that includes safety is honoring to you and those you serve. And that means continuing education should be a priority, not grudgingly available because it takes time away from client care.

I believe that becoming an injury free work site, for clients and staff, is something we can achieve. More then that I think it is something we will achieve. All of us can help eliminate dangerous practices, processes, or designs to make Riverview better. Please dare to challenge yourself, co-workers, supervisors and the superintendent to do all we can to achieve this goal.

As always thank you for your good work.
In service,

David S. Proffitt

“Accountability breeds response-ability.” - Stephen Covey

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Message from the Superintendent (July 18, 2008)