Audit  Audit of the Department of Mental Health

Finding 1
 

DMH did not effectively manage the discharge of some clients from its psychiatric hospitals to less restrictive community-based settings.

Recommendations
 

1. DMH should modify its standard protocol to include identifying and/or modifying the anticipated discharge date in the treatment plan meeting notes as the client approaches discharge.
2. DMH should establish monitoring controls to ensure that anticipated discharge dates are properly recorded or that discharge is as timely as possible.

Finding 2
 

DMH did not revoke the access of 13 former employees to its Mental Health Information System in a timely manner.

Recommendation
 

DMH should establish a formal process (e.g., what steps are to be taken, when, by whom, and with what documentation) for disabling former employees’ network access as soon as possible, as well as monitoring controls to ensure that this process is followed.