DOJ Report Critical of Quality of Care at Napa State Hospital
Napa State Hospital does not adequately provide medical and psychiatric care to its 1,100 patients, according to a U.S. Department of Justice report posted online on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reports. The report was based primarily on inspections of the hospital this year by CMS and the Department of Health Services.
According to the report, three Napa patients last fall overdosed on amphetamines, while three others obtained and used heroin. The report addresses two suicides, at least one of which DOJ officials attribute to hospital personnel not providing timely and adequate medical care.
In addition, CMS officials found that one patient was required to wait more than two years to receive a proper psychiatric evaluation.
DOJ officials state in the report that the Department of Mental Health attempted to deny federal investigators access to Napa State Hospital and Atascadero State Hospital and Patton State Hospital, two other state mental hospitals DOJ seeks to investigate.
The Times reports that DOJ and DMH have "been at odds for months over patient care issues" at the state's four major state hospitals. Furthermore, correspondence between both agencies shows that "the state has tried to keep federal officials out of" three state hospitals until early 2006, according to the Times.
Officials with the DMH and Napa State Hospital could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, according to the Times (Hymon, Los Angeles Times, 7/27).