By Julia Simcoe
Sun Staff Intern
NORWICH – Health care reform initiatives meant changes within Chenango County’s Mental Health department last year, according to an annual report that was delivered to supervisors in May.
The publicly-funded organization serves the mentally ill, developmentally disabled and those who are chemically addicted.
Chenango County Mental Hygiene Services Director Ruth Roberts said cost-shifting at the state level forced her to keep closer tabs on productivity. As a result, clinicians themselves “are now much more aware of the business side of their jobs,” she said.
Roberts replaced two clinicians with a senior social worker and is also looking to consolidate administrative staffs. In the past, the department has considered co-locating the mental health and alcohol and drug dependency outpatient clinics, due to the strong presence of individuals with co-occurring disorders. The consideration is currently on hold, however, because of lack of adequate space at either site.
Because of new state regulations and a new reimbursement structure, the department is under pressure to continue efforts with both productivity and documentation. Across the state, county-operated clinics have experienced similar stressors and have considered privatizing clinic services. The report makes no comment on whether Chenango County’s clinic is considering a move in the same direction.
While the business aspect of the work is vital to the department’s success and ultimately, to the quality of treatment to its patients in the community, Roberts expresses in the report that, “With so much attention placed on the business side of what we do, it’s easy to lose sight of why we are really here. We are here to serve. Our primary responsibility is to serve the mentally disabled in Chenango County.”
The department hosted a one-day event where multiple stakeholders met to discuss the needs of transitional youth in the county. Representatives from probation, Catholic Charities, Planned Parenthood, local schools, and child-serving agencies, along with some parents, met to increase understanding on the developmental needs of youths ages 16 to 24. The collaborative event was made possible with a grant through the Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors. Three committees formed afterward to identify improvements to the existing system of care for this demographic.
The department also has its eye focused on Chenango County’s aging population. Roberts said the county’s cost to maintain chronic conditions will only increase as people age. She anticipates much more demand on the system in the near term.
As for upcoming projects in 2012, staff are transitioning to an electronic recording and billing system. By eliminating paper charts, the system is expected to reduce time and resources required to manage records and better coordinate services with medical providers.
Through all the changes, Roberts said what “remains steadfast and unchanging” is a commitment to deliver “the highest quality, most effective and fiscally responsible services to those individuals with a mental disability or their family members who are living in Chenango County.”