State Hospital Under More Supervision
Judge Appoints Special Master
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Saying that the state mental hospital in Kaneohe is not improving fast enough, U.S. District Judge David Ezra Thursday appointed a special master to help oversee the hospital.
The appointment was negotiated between the state and federal governments, in an effort to end more than a decade of federal court supervision of the problem-plagued hospital (pictured, right).
It came in the wake of a recent rash of escapes, including that of Leonard Moore. Moore escaped twice from the hospital over a one-week period in late March and early April while under mental evalution in an auto theft case.
State health director Bruce Anderson argued that Moore was not officially a patient of the hospital and that his case was unusual because mental evaluations are usually done in jail.
"In most cases, a person is found unfit or mentally incompetent and then is sent to the hospital," Andeson said. "That's the issue that this case has raised."
But Ezra nonetheless said that, "We can do better ... we need to provide more security ... better facilities."
"The structures out there may not be adequate or appropriate for the numbers and the types of patients that are being sent there," court-appointed monitor Leland Chang said.
Along with security, the U.S. Justice Department said that it is also concerned about deteriorating patient care and staff morale, much of it brought about by the decision to move the hospital's entire population into four buildings.
"If you have a unit that's designed for 24 patients and suddenly you have 44 patients in it, you are going to have a change," patient advocate Sharon Yokote said.
"I think there has been a downturn in performance," Chang said.
Another concern is that half of the patients moved out of the hospital are not doing well. Judge Ezra said that "a significant escalation of the court's involvement" was needed, something he had hoped to avoid.
Federal Magistrate Kevin Chang as selected as the special master in the case. Chang is best known for removing all five Bishop Estate trustees from office in 1999 when he was a state judge.
"I think it sends a message to the state that we need to move along faster toward compliance," Justice Department attorney Verlin Deerinwater said.
Anderson tried to put a positive spin on the development, saying that the special master could help the state get out from under court supervision in as soon as six months.
"It will help clarify what needs to be done to bring the facility into compliance and it will provide an individual who can mediate issues between attorneys," Anderson said.
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The appointment was negotiated between the state and federal governments, in an effort to end more than a decade of federal court supervision of the problem-plagued hospital (pictured, right).
It came in the wake of a recent rash of escapes, including that of Leonard Moore. Moore escaped twice from the hospital over a one-week period in late March and early April while under mental evalution in an auto theft case.
State health director Bruce Anderson argued that Moore was not officially a patient of the hospital and that his case was unusual because mental evaluations are usually done in jail.
"In most cases, a person is found unfit or mentally incompetent and then is sent to the hospital," Andeson said. "That's the issue that this case has raised."
But Ezra nonetheless said that, "We can do better ... we need to provide more security ... better facilities."
"The structures out there may not be adequate or appropriate for the numbers and the types of patients that are being sent there," court-appointed monitor Leland Chang said.
Along with security, the U.S. Justice Department said that it is also concerned about deteriorating patient care and staff morale, much of it brought about by the decision to move the hospital's entire population into four buildings.
"If you have a unit that's designed for 24 patients and suddenly you have 44 patients in it, you are going to have a change," patient advocate Sharon Yokote said.
"I think there has been a downturn in performance," Chang said.
Another concern is that half of the patients moved out of the hospital are not doing well. Judge Ezra said that "a significant escalation of the court's involvement" was needed, something he had hoped to avoid.
Federal Magistrate Kevin Chang as selected as the special master in the case. Chang is best known for removing all five Bishop Estate trustees from office in 1999 when he was a state judge.
"I think it sends a message to the state that we need to move along faster toward compliance," Justice Department attorney Verlin Deerinwater said.
Anderson tried to put a positive spin on the development, saying that the special master could help the state get out from under court supervision in as soon as six months.
"It will help clarify what needs to be done to bring the facility into compliance and it will provide an individual who can mediate issues between attorneys," Anderson said.
- May 12, 2001: Report Outlines Infighting At State Hospital
- April 10, 2001: Security To Increase At State Hospital
- March 24, 2001: Justice Attorneys Tour State Hospital
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