A Michigan senator has called on the state health department to provide information regarding the changes in weight and nutrition guidelines for young patients receiving psychiatric care.
Sen. Michael Webber, R-Rochester Hills, expressed his concerns about children losing weight while under the state’s care in a letter written on Tuesday, March 12. Parent groups have raised issues about inadequate food being provided to these children.
In a letter addressed to Elizabeth Hertel, Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, and Mary Clare Solky, Director of the Walter P. Reuther Psychiatric Hospital in Westland, Webber emphasized the crucial significance of this information in ensuring that children under state care receive proper nutrition.
In a prepared statement, Webber expressed his frustration, stating that it is still challenging to obtain the necessary data and answers to effectively tackle this pressing issue.
Webber, as of Wednesday, March 13, had not received the information he had requested during a Feb. 27 hearing conducted by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on MDHHS. It is worth noting that the state operates four psychiatric hospitals.
MDHHS officials have stated that they have received the letter and will be providing the requested records to Sen. Webber through the chairperson of the Senate subcommittee. This is in line with their normal procedure to ensure that all members have access to the information they have requested.
According to an MDHHS spokesperson, the pediatric and dietary team at state-run psychiatric hospitals develop personalized dietary plans for each patient. These plans include calorie intakes ranging from 1,800 to 2,800 calories per day, based on the specific needs of each patient.
During a Senate appropriations subcommittee meeting last month, Webber inquired about the nutritional and calorie county guidelines utilized at the Hawthorn Center and Walter P. Reuther Psychiatric Hospital from the health department leadership.
Michigan’s only state-run psychiatric facility for children and adolescents is the Hawthorn Center in Northville. In order to accommodate the demolition and reconstruction of the facility, patients and staff were relocated to a separate unit at the Reuther hospital until the construction was finished.
During the subcommittee hearing, Dr. George Mellos, deputy director for Michigan’s State Hospitals Administration, acknowledged that the spreadsheets documenting weight change from admission to discharge did indicate evidence of weight loss. He explained that this could be attributed to the fact that children often come in with a “very high” body mass index (BMI) and subsequently adopt a more suitable diet while under the state’s care.
Webber was not pleased with that response.
During the previous summer, he along with a few state lawmakers participated in a listening session where they had the opportunity to hear directly from families who shared their stories of suffering under the care of Michigan’s Child Protective Services and the Hawthorne Center.
In conversations with families who have visited their children at the hospital, Webber has observed instances of poor diet and significant weight loss. One mother shared her concern about her son, who has lost 30 pounds and appears to be wasting away.
According to Webber, there have been complaints about the quantity and quality of the food. He emphasized the importance of the state’s responsibility to provide sufficient and satisfactory meals. The issue is being closely monitored and addressed.
Recently, there has been a lot of attention focused on the state-run psychiatric facilities due to two public lawsuits that have been filed against them.
In December 2022, there was a case concerning an active intruder drill at the Hawthorne Center. The drill, which was conducted without prior notice, resulted in employees and parents of children at the facility filing a lawsuit. They claimed to have experienced trauma as a result of the drill.
According to court records, the state compensated $13 million in a settlement to assist with the expenses of treatment for 50 patients and approximately 110 staff members who claimed to have been traumatized.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) acknowledged the impact of the event on its staff members and expressed its commitment to providing them with the necessary resources. In addition, the department is actively working on enhancing its training and exercise processes as part of its ongoing efforts to update its emergency operations policies.
In a statement, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services expressed its commitment to prioritizing the health and safety of both its staff and patients. Recognizing the importance of resolving the matter, the department decided to settle the case. The department also expressed regret for the negative impact the incident had on the patients, staff, and the community in December 2022.
Several employees of the Westland psychiatric hospital are facing a second lawsuit after a 10-year-old boy under their care was assaulted by another young person.
Southfield lawyer Arnold Reed has filed a $100 million lawsuit, claiming that the employees intentionally caused emotional distress, displayed gross negligence, and violated the child protection law, which requires them to report abuse.
State health officials have taken action against three employees involved in a recent investigation. One of the employees was terminated, while another chose to resign before facing termination. The remaining employee received a two-week suspension without pay.
During the subcommittee hearing on February 27, Mellos emphasized that both the department and his administration do not condone such behavior at any facility.
