State nulls contract
with Castle hostpital

The medical center's adolescent
program isn't safe enough,
officials say

By Helen Altonn
Star-Bulletin

The state Health Department has canceled a contract with Castle Medical Center for residential and acute care for adolescents because of a number of concerns, it was learned today.

The decision followed a visit to the hospital last week by lawyers of the U.S. Department of Justice, state attorney general's office, and Health Department staff.

Tina Donkervoet, clinical director of the state Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division, cited concerns about "ongoing safety issues that have not been resolved, although we've been working together since November to try and resolve issues."

Services are mandated for most of the children under the Felix consent decree, supervised by the U.S. District Court.

Justice Department attorneys in November said children were not receiving adequate oversight and were being detained in multiple restraints for several hours.

"We were there and we saw it and we can't support the quality of that program," Donkervoet said.

Castle provides 12 residential and acute beds for adolescents under its state contract. Eleven teens are there now.

Donkervoet said, "We will not move anybody precipitously. We are convening meetings to talk about where the youth need to go. Many had pending discharges in the coming months."

Anthony Ching, Felix intradepartmental coordinator in the Health Department, said a corrective action plan was developed to address Justice Department concerns. But, he said, there was "a messy encounter" with staff who indicated they were unaware of the plan or were not supportive.

He said the concerns involved limits on restraints and documentation on use of restraints. Also, he said, the seclusion room at Castle has a live electrical outlet that is a safety hazard to children.