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Mental health agency reorganizes leadership, seeks EHR and other investments while preparing for consent‑decree obligations
Summary
Oklahoma’s new mental health commissioner told the health appropriations subcommittee the agency will reorganize to focus on a hospital enterprise model, needs a modern electronic medical record and upgraded incident‑reporting systems, and is preparing for costs tied to competency‑restoration requirements in a pending consent decree.
Commissioner Carrie Friesen and senior leadership of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) briefed the Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Health about an agency reorganization, technology needs, facility conditions and the fiscal implications of an anticipated consent-decree settlement over competency restoration services.
New leadership and organizational priorities: Friesen said she has reorganized the department into three functional “buckets”: (1) the hospital enterprise that runs state-operated facilities, (2) central/ shared services (administration, finance, IT), and (3) community and contracted provider services. She said the reorganization aims to improve accountability and clinical quality at the department’s 11 state-operated facilities and 12 satellite locations.
Electronic medical record and incident reporting upgrades: Friesen told lawmakers ODMHSAS needs a modern EHR to replace…
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