We Advocate For You!
Sacramento County Office of Patients’ Rights You may have heard of the Sacramento County Office of Patients’ Rights (SAC OPR) in some conversation or from a friend. You might have used our services to help with a hospitalization hearing or other issue. It is also possible that you’ve never heard of the SAC OPR. If that’s the case, or you are unclear about what we do and the services we offer, keep reading and it will become clear. It is a part of Consumers Self-Help and is contracted with Sacramento and Yolo Counties to provide advocacy services to mental health clients. The advocates perform four primary services. 1. They represent patients’
“expressed” wishes at Certification Review Hearings for patients involuntarily held at psychiatric hospitals. 2. They investigate com-
plaints/concerns about inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment. 3. They monitor psychiatric and resi-
dential facilities for state law compliance. 4. They provide trainings of Pa-
tients’ Rights to staff and consumers of mental health services. If you’re like most people, you’re probably wondering what, if anything, all that has to do with you. The answer is surprising simple. Everything! Advocates can teach staff how patients have a right to be treated. They can observe and report to Community Care Licensing how well a board and care facility is being run. Helping people solve problems with providers by providing information and resources about their rights is another way advocates make sure that consumers are treated fairly.
Hospital Holds The service that advocates spend the most time on takes place in psychiatric hospitals when patients are at their most vulnerable. Advocates protect the rights of and represent the wishes of the patient who has been placed on a 5250 or a 5270 hold.
These are involuntary detainments that Questions asked could include: mental health patients can be placed on because the doctor feels that they Have you want to or tried to hurt could benefit from more inpatient treatyourself or someone else? ment after a 5150 (72 hours) hold is Have you been taking your preup. scribed medications? Have you been sleeping and eating? The 5250 is a 14 day hold. The 5270 is How has your hygiene been? a 30 day hold. There are only three Have you been attending groups on reasons that a person could be put on the unit? a 14 day hold (5250). The person has to be an active danger to others, dan- In short, they will want to know what ger to themselves or gravely disabled has changed for you since you first due to a mental disorder. Grave dis- came to the hospital. All of this inforability legally means not being able mation along with the doctors, nurses, to care for one’s basic needs such and social workers notes in your chart as food, clothing or shelter. will help the hearing officer decided whether or not to release you from the hold. During the hearing, your advoA person might have access to these items but is unable to use them to take cate remains with you and shares the information you provided when he/she care of themselves. This condition is the only one that can be used for a 30 interviewed you. day hold (5270). Patients have a legal right to have a hearing within the first If you are kept on the hold and remain four days of either hold being written. at the hospital, your advocate can arThe hearing officer determines if there range a writ hearing for you. This is the is probable cause or good reason for second hearing you are legally entitled the hold to continue. Your advocate’s to and is an appeal of the first hearing. roll in the hearing process: The public defender then has about 23 business days to come and discuss Should you find yourself in a hospital, your case with you. Shortly after that, the second hearing is held with a on a hold, you will receive a copy of judge, the public defender and yourthe 5250 or the 5270 hold you have self. The advocates do not attend been placed on. Hospital staff may those hearings. also tell you what day your hearing is scheduled for. Each hearing takes about 15 to 20 minutes. These are Meet Your Advocates: held in a conference or meeting room at the hospital > Karen – likes cats and enjoys playing the violin Your advocate will meet with you prior > George – likes birds and astronomy to the hearing and discuss if you want > Marsha – a social worker with a to stay for more treatment or attempt to great sense of humor be discharged through the hearing > Lisa – mother of two grown sons process. If you want to stay and conwith Bi Polar Disorder tinue to work with your doctor, you > Rae – a therapist in training who enneed to do nothing else. You would joys helping people not be contesting the hold. > Angelina – enjoys volunteering and science fiction If you want to leave against the docFeel free to call us if you need help tor’s advice, you would contest the with a problem you may have in the hold and discuss with your advocate mental health system. 916-333-3800 in why you feel you are ready to leave. Sacramento County 877-965-6772 in Commonly, the advocate will want to Yolo County know how you have been doing over the past three days in the hospital. www.consumersselfhelp.org