PCPA informed members in August about the new draft bulletin establishing a uniform system of incident reporting for the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS). The draft bulletin covers all of OMHSAS’s mental health treatment and support services.
PCPA convened a work group on this draft bulletin and has received numerous comments from its members. Due to the high number of responses and the extensive concerns expressed by members, PCPA is encouraging all members who submitted comments to also send them directly to OMHSAS. While PCPA’s comments represent the entire association, it will also be beneficial for the office to see the number of providers who are concerned about the draft.PCPA has identified the following items as those most important to include:
- PCPA supports the creation of a uniform reporting system of incident reporting as a way to ensure the safety of consumers, however the current bulletin generates many concerns.
- PCPA is alarmed at the proposed time frame of implementation beginning January 2004. This deadline does not provide adequate time to implement necessary training, policy and procedure changes, and to assure adequate and meaningful stakeholder input.
- The current list of incidents will generate a large number of unnecessary reports, thereby taking time away from treatment in order to process documentation and potentially diverting attention away from truly important incidents.
- In the current fiscal climate, the establishment of additional requirements will strain already tight budgets and will divert resources away from treatment.
- PCPA is encouraging OMHSAS to form a work group made up of all stakeholders in order to create a truly beneficial incident reporting system.
Please send all comments to:Gregory M. Smith
Allentown State Hospital
1600 Hanover Avenue
Allentown, PA, 18109-2498
grsmith@state.pa.us