Press Release

September 28, 2004

HHS Licensing Approves Plan for Riverview

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today that its Division of Licensing and Certification has approved a licensing plan for the Riverview Psychiatric Center (Riverview).

David S. Proffitt, Superintendent of Riverview, noted that the new hospital continues to move towards the best quality care. “This is really about improving treatment for our clients,” said Proffitt, “and we are always taking important steps forward to meet that goal.”

HHS Licensing and Certification Staff conducted a detailed assessment of Riverview and its procedures last month and issued the hospital a Conditional License. They identified some areas where care could be improved, namely in the documentation of active treatment in client treatment plans. Early last week, Riverview staff submitted a Plan of Correction that addressed this issue and all others raised in the licensing report.

Brenda Harvey, HHS Deputy Commissioner for Programs, noted that the licensing process has been a valuable resource in attaining feedback and consultation for the new hospital. “Licensing is always an excellent opportunity to bring a different perspective about how care can be improved based on best practices and national standards,” Harvey said. “We are pleased that Riverview is responding so quickly and working so hard to incorporate these improvements.”

Current improvement initiatives at the hospital include revising the care planning process to better organize and document the services provided to patients; implementing a recovery approach to treatment that includes extending psycho-educational, vocational, and peer support services; providing intensive training on therapeutic interaction skills to enhance staff effectiveness; re-engineering leadership functions; implementing new staffing and risk management plans; and revising quality assurance and improvement functions.

HHS Licensing Staff will return on a periodic basis to review the implementation of the corrective action plan.