Chapter 2.36 — MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS DEPARTMENT

There is in the county a medical institutions department, hereafter in this chapter referred to as the department.

(Prior admin. code § 5-17.01)

The executive officer of the department is the director of medical institutions, appointed by the board of supervisors, upon recommendation of the medical institutions commission, hereafter in this chapter referred to as the director.

(Prior admin. code § 5-17.02)

Subject to the direction and control of the board of supervisors, and to applicable state laws, rules and regulations and local ordinances not inconsistent therewith, the director shall be in charge of the medical institutions department, which duties shall include, but not by way of limitation:

A.

Be responsible for the overall planning, direction and control of the various operations of the department;

B.

Operate and maintain inpatient and outpatient medical facilities, programs and services for the county's medically indigent;

C.

When requested by the commission, attend meetings of the commission and make such investigative studies and reports to the commission as it may request;

D.

Initiate and recommend to the commission and board of supervisors policy and operational changes as deemed appropriate to secure the most efficient use of facilities and personnel in the provision of medical care;

E.

Administer the county's mental health services program;

F.

Recommend to the board of supervisors contractual agreements with other agencies for the provision of certain special services deemed medically necessary, and for which the county could not reasonably, effectively or efficiently provide;

G.

Engage in special medical research and education projects;

H.

Maintain the standards of service and education in the medical institutions to comply with the requirements of the professional accreditation agencies;

I.

Operate and maintain a training program for interns and resident physicians, as well as a school of professional nursing;

J.

Coordinate the activities of the visiting staff physicians;

K.

Exercise his authority through subordinate administrators;

L.

Report to the commission and the board of supervisors any unusual occurrence or matter which, in his judgment, requires remedial or corrective action by the board of supervisors.

(Prior admin. code § 5-17.03)

The director of medical institutions shall cause to be prepared for the approval of the board of supervisors rules and regulations governing admission to the medical facilities of the county and the payment for such services. Such rules and regulations shall be in conformance with and carry out the intent of this chapter and shall be in full force and effect when approved by the board of supervisors.

(Prior admin. code § 5-17.04)

There is in the department a mental health services division, hereafter in this chapter referred to as the division.

(Prior admin. code § 5-17.05)

The executive officer of the division is the director of medical institutions, appointed by the board of supervisors, hereafter in this chapter referred to as the director.

(Prior admin. code § 5-17.06)

Subject to the direction and control of the board of supervisors, and to applicable state laws, rules and regulations, and local ordinances not inconsistent therewith, the director shall:

A.

Provide informational services to the general public, an educational services furnished by qualified mental health personnel to schools, courts, health and welfare agencies, probation departments and other appropriate public or private agencies or groups authorized in the approved plan for community mental health services;

B.

Provide psychiatric consultant services to public or private agencies for the promotion and coordination of services that preserve mental health and for the early recognition and management of conditions that might develop into psychiatric illnesses;

C.

Operate a guidance clinic to provide diagnostic, analytical and therapeutic services involving psychological problems of juveniles referred by the Juvenile Court or the probation department;

D.

Operate outpatient psychiatric clinics at the county hospitals for the evaluation and short-term treatment of persons suffering from mental illness, mental retardation, or behavioral disorders who cannot otherwise afford or obtain private psychiatric care;

E.

Operate inpatient psychiatric facilities at the county hospitals for the diagnosis, observation and treatment of patients who are admitted both voluntarily and involuntarily.

(Prior admin. code § 5-17.07)