Laguna Honda’s Struggles?
A Westside Observer Special Election Feature
• • • • • • • • • • July 19, 2024 • • • • • • • • • •
Since the budget-related closure of the Mental Health Rehabilitation Facility at SFGH (MHRF) ten years ago, the Health Department began relocating mentally troubled patients, including those with drug addiction behaviors, to Laguna Honda Hospital, mixing them with frail senior and disabled populations. Problems of cohorting patients began immediately, culminating in the loss of certification.
What would you recommend to the Health Department to permanently fix the problem, or do you think the steps that have been initiated to regain certification are sufficient?
Stephen Martin-Pinto Responds:
The failure of the Department of Public Health to understand the second and third order effects of not properly sorting and quarantining patients with mental illness and drug addiction from the senior and disabled populations was profound. It was clear that the proper risk assessment of mixing patient populations was never completed. This was a failure of leadership and I have concerns in the competency within the Department of Public Health. I would do a deep dive investigation into who made the decision to move these incompatible patient populations next to each other, and how it was approved and justified.
Patients with drug addiction and mental illness issues may need to be isolated from the general population, and there should be physical barriers (such as locked doors and security) and administrative barriers (such as signage and written policies limiting visiting hours) between the various populations. A system of continuous assessments needs to be created, evaluating residents for improvements in mental condition or sobriety. As patients improve, they may need to be moved to different parts of the Laguna Honda Hospital facility, and a plan should be made for this as well.
It was clear that the proper risk assessment of mixing patient populations was never completed. This was a failure of leadership and I have concerns in the competency within the Department of Public Health. It was clear that the proper risk assessment of mixing patient populations was never completed. This was a failure of leadership and I have concerns in the competency within the Department of Public Health.”
Essentially this was a failure of supervision and planning. I would hold those who made and approved the decision to mix incompatible patient populations together accountable, and if necessary, search for competent qualified leadership to manage the Department of Public Health and Laguna Honda Hospital facility.
Matt Boschetto Responds:
Since the closure of the facility at SFGH ten years ago, relocating mentally troubled patients, including those with drug addiction behaviors, to Laguna Honda Hospital has caused significant issues. These problems culminated in the loss of certification due to the mixing of frail senior and disabled populations with patients requiring different care levels. While our elected leaders have been part of the recent recertification process, it’s crucial to recognize that their failure to address the underlying issues contributed to the crisis.
The failure of Proposition C and the overemphasis on permanent housing contributed to these issues by neglecting the need for comprehensive treatment services. Addressing these failures and implementing these solutions will ensure that Laguna Honda and similar institutions remain certified and provide the highest quality of care.”
To achieve permanent stability and prevent future lapses in certification, the Health Department must address the root causes of patient cohorting issues. This includes establishing specialized facilities for mentally troubled patients and those with addiction behaviors to ensure appropriate care without compromising the safety and well-being of frail seniors and disabled individuals. Reinstituting stringent screening and admission policies is essential to prevent mixing incompatible patient populations, reducing violence and drug use within facilities. Increased funding for mental health services is crucial to provide adequate support for all patients, reducing the need to relocate them to inappropriate settings.
The failure of Proposition C and the overemphasis on permanent housing contributed to these issues by neglecting the need for comprehensive treatment services. Addressing these failures and implementing these solutions will ensure that Laguna Honda and similar institutions remain certified and provide the highest quality of care. Real change requires addressing these underlying issues, not just temporary fixes.
Supervisor Myrna Melgar:
Laguna Honda Hospital is a City treasure and we must ensure its sustainability. The recent decertification crisis has been averted for now, thanks to the hard work of staff, and the City’s leadership who all came together to address all the findings that led to the decertification in the first place.
Now that California voters have made funding available to build facilities for this population in proposition 1, I think we need to plan to build a facility for this specific use.”
The initial incident that resulted in the hospital being scrutinized was due to drugs being found on a patient, but many of the subsequent findings in the survey that led to the decertification were not. Many of the findings had to do with protocols, some even had to do with the physical facility. The population of folks who have substance use disorder and/or mental illness is here in our city and many of these folks are aging, and homeless. Now that California voters have made funding available to build facilities for this population in proposition 1, I think we need to plan to build a facility for this specific use.
Dr. Edward Yee Responds:
Dr. Yee did not respond to the question.
This is a special election feature to inform readers in District 7 about the candidates positions. Got a question? Send it to the editor, editorATwestsideobserver.com
July 19, 2024
