Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital - Wikipedia
Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital - Wikipedia
A decision to close the hospital was made in 1995 by Governor
Christine Todd Whitman; following a 1993 investigation by then State Senator
Richard J. Codey, during which he went undercover at the hospital and found rampant
patient abuse, wasteful spending, and other illegal practices.
[24] His report stated that he saw patients "were treated with less care than the average prisoner."
[25] The process was to start in 1996 and complete the process in three years.
[26] The goal was to place patients in community support homes.
[27] An initial plan was to provide a $450 a month stipend
[11] and "create 40 mobile outreach teams to provide therapy and help with housing, medication and daily living. The teams would include psychologists, nurses and mental health advocates who would be on call 24 hours a day".
[26] The hospital closed in 1998.
In 1995, William Jennings who was committed to the hospital following murdering his parents; had been granted grounds privileges and left the hospital.[120] He was found at Walt Disney World in Florida confused and disoriented.[121]
Hospital investigations[edit]
Codey investigation[edit]
Senator
Richard J. Codey went undercover to work at Marlboro Hospital.
[204] He had gained access to the hospital by applying for employment using the ID of a convicted felon/possible sex offender.
[205] His background was never checked and he was assigned to work on one of the most regressed cottages at the hospital; Cottage 16. This cottage housed patients on two levels; first floor and basement. The basement level, all male, housed patients who were often speechless, incoherent or actively psychotic and included those who had murdered outside or inside the hospital. Senator Codey used his experience at the hospital to advocate for stricter rules of employment, including fingerprint and background checks. Additionally, the investigation resulted in the head of the hospital, Dr. David A. Sorenson, being "reassigned".
[68]
1993 investigation[edit]
In an executive summary issued in mid-1993, after the 15 month 1993 investigation, showed 'irregularities and questionable activities' at the hospital. "The results of the investigation reveal a tableau of waste, fraud, thievery and corruption in which the squandering of taxpayer dollars virtually has become business as usual at this institution. Senior Hospital officials repeatedly exercised lax supervision and poor judgment, allowing multiple abuses to flourish either by directly participating in them or by simply turning a blind eye."
[206] The result was a number of personnel suspended or removed, contracts stopped, and changes to the procedures at the hospital.
[207]
1987 investigation[edit]
A report by the US Health Care Financing Administration issued a report that Marlboro Hospital could lose its hospital accreditation. This warning was after the report suggested the hospital was understaffed and it was warned it needed to increase the size of its staff.
[208] The report also found a general "insensitivity on the part of the administration to patients, staff and community needs"
