Local Mental Hospital Could Lose Accreditation

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Northeast Oklahoma's largest community-based mental hospital could lose its accreditation if required improvements aren't made. <br><br>Parkside hospital must assemble a correction

Tuesday, March 6th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Northeast Oklahoma's largest community-based mental hospital could lose its accreditation if required improvements aren't made.

Parkside hospital must assemble a correction plan by March 30 or risk losing its accreditation with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, said Janet McIntyre, commission representative.

A Nov. 4 inspection found that standards weren't being met at the hospital.

Accreditation officials questioned the way Parkside prescribed and dispensed medication for its clients, McIntyre said. They also cited the hospital for a poor environment of care, including the hospital's design and safety plans.

Parkside officials said they will submit a plan of correction to the commission within the next 30 days and fully expect that plan to meet or exceed all issues raised by the commission.

``Many of the issues have already been corrected,'' said Parkside representative Sheila Curley.

McIntyre said accreditation officials will conduct another inspection within four months of the March 30 deadline to see if the improvements are maintained.

State officials said hospitals must have external accreditation in order to keep their state contracts. Parkside has about $10 million in contracts with the state Mental Health Department.