Riverview Psychiatric Center
Encyclopedia
Riverview Psychiatric Center is a psychiatric hospital
in Augusta, Maine
. The center recruits for volunteers from the United Way for certain services.
. In the 19th century, institutionalisation was found to be the "correct solution" to the problem of "madness".
In 1834, the Maine Legislature
established the "Maine Insane Hospital", and together with private donations, state appropriations
enabled the hospital to open in 1840.
From 1946 to 1962, a Dr. Sleeper served as the superintendent, and his name lent itself to the Sleeper Era, a period of several changes to services, including "unitary control
" of nursing, hiring of an additional psychologist and interns, hiring of a pharmacist and a dentist, and creation of a library with a librarian. From the late 1940s through the early 1960s, "the hospital experienced extensive over-crowding." In the 1960s, a new superintendent, Dr. Patterson, mandated discharge of patients (as opposed to leaves of absence), which raised admissions, yet, "the population began to drop because of use of new medications."
In the early 1970s, many patients were de-institutionalized under the rubric of patient rights, by supervisor Roy Ettlinger, which led to the inmate population dropping from 1,500 to 350. Patient advocates were also hired, and an ongoing reevaluation of the removal of patients continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 2004, a new "92-bed civil and forensic psychiatric treatment facility" was built to replace the now-old state hospital.
In 2007, a state investigation revealed that many potential patients were turned away. At the time, a report to the state legislature reported that the vast majority had other places to go for help, but Eight Percent, or 30 patients, ended up in emergency rooms.
The crisis stabilization unit is in effect an emergency room for psychiatry, frequently dealing with suicidal, violent, or otherwise critical individuals. Laws in many jurisdictions providing for long term involuntary commitment
require a commitment order issued by a judge within a short time (after 72 hours, the evaluation period
) of the patient's entry to the unit, if the patient does not or is unable to consent themselves. In Maine, this is also true.
As of 2010, some criminal defendants are held at Riverview Psychiatric Center, especially those who claim the insanity defense.
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
in Augusta, Maine
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
. The center recruits for volunteers from the United Way for certain services.
History
Modern psychiatric hospitals evolved from, and eventually replaced, the older lunatic asylums. The development of the modern psychiatric hospital is also the story of the rise of organised, institutional psychiatryPsychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
. In the 19th century, institutionalisation was found to be the "correct solution" to the problem of "madness".
In 1834, the Maine Legislature
Maine Legislature
The Maine Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. It is a bicameral body composed of the lower house Maine House of Representatives and the upper house Maine Senate...
established the "Maine Insane Hospital", and together with private donations, state appropriations
Appropriation (law)
In law and government, appropriation is the act of setting apart something for its application to a particular usage, to the exclusion of all other uses....
enabled the hospital to open in 1840.
From 1946 to 1962, a Dr. Sleeper served as the superintendent, and his name lent itself to the Sleeper Era, a period of several changes to services, including "unitary control
Nursing theory
Nursing theory is the term given to the body of knowledge that is used to define or explain various aspects of the profession of nursing.-Grand nursing theories:...
" of nursing, hiring of an additional psychologist and interns, hiring of a pharmacist and a dentist, and creation of a library with a librarian. From the late 1940s through the early 1960s, "the hospital experienced extensive over-crowding." In the 1960s, a new superintendent, Dr. Patterson, mandated discharge of patients (as opposed to leaves of absence), which raised admissions, yet, "the population began to drop because of use of new medications."
In the early 1970s, many patients were de-institutionalized under the rubric of patient rights, by supervisor Roy Ettlinger, which led to the inmate population dropping from 1,500 to 350. Patient advocates were also hired, and an ongoing reevaluation of the removal of patients continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In 2004, a new "92-bed civil and forensic psychiatric treatment facility" was built to replace the now-old state hospital.
In 2007, a state investigation revealed that many potential patients were turned away. At the time, a report to the state legislature reported that the vast majority had other places to go for help, but Eight Percent, or 30 patients, ended up in emergency rooms.
Services
Riverview Psychiatric Center provides a number of services to patients.The crisis stabilization unit is in effect an emergency room for psychiatry, frequently dealing with suicidal, violent, or otherwise critical individuals. Laws in many jurisdictions providing for long term involuntary commitment
Involuntary commitment
Involuntary commitment or civil commitment is a legal process through which an individual with symptoms of severe mental illness is court-ordered into treatment in a hospital or in the community ....
require a commitment order issued by a judge within a short time (after 72 hours, the evaluation period
5150 (Involuntary psychiatric hold)
Section 5150 is a section of the California Welfare and Institutions Code which allows a qualified officer or clinician to involuntarily confine a person deemed to have a mental disorder that makes them a danger to him or her self, and/or others and/or gravely disabled...
) of the patient's entry to the unit, if the patient does not or is unable to consent themselves. In Maine, this is also true.
As of 2010, some criminal defendants are held at Riverview Psychiatric Center, especially those who claim the insanity defense.