No hospital should regulate itself. Especially a hospital that helps patients with challenging psychiatric conditions that require the highest level of care.
But that’s exactly what’s been happening ever since 1974. The Arizona Department of Health Services has been both running & ‘regulating’ our Arizona State Hospital. That conflicted governance model has caused unchecked substandard care over the years when ADHS leadership soft-pedals regulatory oversight to give the appearance that the facilities are providing care that meets standards.
See: More oversight is needed at the Arizona State Hospital, critics say
For the last few years, Sen. David Gowan (R-Sierra Vista) has been proposing a simple fix that would eliminate the conflict of interest. This year’s bill is SB1688. Last week, the Arizona State Senate failed SB1688 by a vote of 13-15. Puzzlingly, all but two Democrats voted against the bill, ensuring it’s failure.
It would have established a 5-member Governing Board who would be responsible for hiring and managing the State Hospital Director. The state hospital would report to and serve at the pleasure of the Board and ASH would finally operate on its own, solving a longstanding governance problem created by the fact that ADHS both runs and regulates our state hospital.
Fixing the Governance Flaw at Our Arizona State Hospital: A Primer
But… in an unexpected turn of events, the bill was reconsidered by Sen. Theresa Hatathlie, D-Coal Mine, and now has a 2nd potential opportunity to pass out of the Senate Monday. With Hatathlie’s “Motion to Reconsider” and with the right amendment to bring additional Democrats who had voted NO (despite Gowan’s amendment with recommendations by the Governor’s office) it’s possible the bill will pass out of Senate on Monday and make its final passage through the House & up to the Governor’s desk.
Arizona State Hospital Needs Independent Oversight, Isn’t Getting It
If Monday’s effort to resurrect the bill fails, it appears that the hospital’s flawed and conflicted governance model will remain in perpetuity… or until a series of bad outcomes makes it crystal clear to everyone, including the Governor’s Office, that the current governance model is dangerous.
Fixing the Governance Flaw at Our Arizona State Hospital: A Primer
If Monday’s effort to reconsider SB1688 fails, at least I can tell myself that I tried my best to correct the system. I’ll have a clear conscience… I wonder if those who oppose SB1688 will?
For context read this article by Amy Silverman: Patient deaths at Arizona State Hospital raise questions about staffing levels, lack of oversight
This story by Mary Jo Pitzl at the Arizona Republic & Stephanie Innes’ investigative piece: More oversight is needed at the Arizona State Hospital, critics say
