MEDIA CONTACT
Erin Maier, (531) 893-1359,
erin.maier@nebraska.gov
Lincoln, NE – The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Behavioral Health is pleased to announce the Lincoln Regional Center (LRC) completed a successful hospital licensure survey and ligature mitigation construction.
The LRC is a The Joint Commission (TJC) accredited psychiatric hospital in Lincoln that is operated by the Nebraska DHHS.
Ligature mitigation construction involved the removal of objects in the environment of patients that create sustainable points of attachment that may result in self-harm or loss of life.
“The LRC is focused on continual improvement and is proud to maintain the highest of standards to ensure continued licensure and accreditation," said Tony Green, Interim Director of Behavioral Health. “Improving infrastructure is fundamental to the services we provide as it allows us to improve treatment and safety for both staff and persons in care."
The survey included but was not limited to the following:
- Environment tour of all hospital treatment buildings
- Observation of patient meal times, medication passes, and Treatment Team meetings
- Review of video and associated documentation of restraint incidents as requested
- Interviews of hospital program staff in multiple disciplines
- Records reviews were completed in totality for a requested time period for requested patients
- Review of Handle with Care (verbal and physical intervention) training records and implementation
- Review of LRC's staffing model and application, including the number of staff on shift
“Overall, the surveyors were complimentary of the social settings of the units, of the hospital and program leadership, and of experiencing a less stressful environment than they had experienced in previous surveys," said Mitchell Bruening, LRC Hospital Administrator.
Additionally, The Joint Commission (TJC) officially concluded the LRC's ligature mitigation project and continues to grant the LRC an accreditation decision of accredited for all services surveyed under the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals. The LRC maintains accreditation alongside more than 22,000 other healthcare organizations and programs across the United States. TJC provides oversight for and evaluates the LRC's performance for defined quality standards the LRC must adhere to in order to maintain accreditation.