Patton State Hospital

Mission | Vision | History

Hospital Mission

Patton State Hospital's mission is to empower forensic and civilly committed individuals to recover from mental illness utilizing Recovery principles and evidenced based practices within a safe, structured, and secure environment.

Major components of the hospital's mission include:

• EVALUATION: To provide professional evaluations, including recommendations to the courts and other agencies regarding whether individuals are, as relevant to their classification status, competent to stand trial, appropriate for release into the community, or appropriate placement in an alternative facility;
  
  
• TREATMENT: To design and provide individualized quality treatment for mentally ill individuals utilizing a recovery focused biopsychosocial rehabilitation model; and
  
  
• PROTECTION:To maintain a secure, safe, therapeutic, and supportive environment for the benefit of the individuals we serve, our employees, and the community.
  
  
• DISPOSITION: To prepare individuals we serve for transfer or discharge to the next level of care.

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Hospital Vision

Patton State Hospital’s vision is to lead in the Recovery of individuals in need of psychiatric care.

Hospital Philosophy

We believe that by providing a secure and therapeutic environment, within the context of a Recovery focused biopsychosocial rehabilitation model, we will maximize our individuals’ potential to live as independently as possible and minimize the disruption of their lives and the lives of others impacted by their illness.

We believe that the process of providing expert clinical evaluation and treatment for the mentally ill individual takes place most effectively in an environment which fosters innovation, creative problem-solving, mutual respect, and a dynamic, therapeutic milieu characterized by collaboration between the staff, the individuals we serve, and the community. We foster this collaboration through communication based upon understanding of customer-supplier relationships, resulting in responsive work processes.

As a forensic psychiatric facility whose mission is vitally linked to public policy and community concerns, we believe that our individuals are best served in an environment which balances each individual's treatment needs with security. All members of the Patton State Hospital community are personally responsible for the safety and security of the hospital environment. To maintain security, we provide the structure, support, validation and interactions, which promote self-responsibility, well being, and health.

It is our philosophy to promote positive public relations and encourage employee and Individual served participation in educating the public regarding mental health issues and the role of Patton State Hospital.

Hospital Values

Patton State Hospital is committed to clinical, forensic, and organizational excellence and a strong spirit of community while providing individual’s care with respect and dignity. Employees and Individuals served are s empowered and held accountable to identify problems, propose recommendations, and implement solutions.

The following are all values of great importance:

• EXCELLENCE: The hospital is committed to clinical, forensic, and organizational excellence, while providing competent clinical treatment for all individuals in our care. All individuals are treated with respect and dignity with person-centered treatment planning. This collaborative process fosters mutual respect, open communication, teamwork, and a culture of hope.
  
  
• PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT: The hospital promotes individual responsibility and accountability. All staff & Choice are empowered to improve organizational performance and assist individuals with their treatment decisions. Individuals served are empowered to improve their own rehabilitation and recovery experiences. Improvement is determined by the measurable outcomes submitted to the Quality Improvement Team for Review and follow-up.
  
  
• SECURITY:The hospital's security is created in order to maintain safety for all individuals who live and work at Patton State Hospital by providing and environment that promotes Recovery while maintaining a safe therapeutic relationship between all staff and Individuals served.
  
  
• SAFETY: Safety is the cornerstone in the performance of all hospital work. Each of us are equally responsible for our own personal safety as well as the safety of others. The expectation for all who live and work at Patton State Hospital is that while violence is not acceptable, staff member shall be confident, trained, and prepared to handle the situation in the most humane and safe manner.
  
  
• SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY: The hospital values its strong spirit of community and takes pride in the leadership provided from all levels of the hospital.
  
  
• DIGNITY AND RESPECT: The hospital is committed to developing the potential of all that live and work within the hospital. This development occurs in an atmosphere of mutual dignity and respect, built on a framework of personal and organizational integrity.
  
  
• INNOVATION: The hospital is committed to fostering an environment where innovation and creativity are at the forefront in the improvement of any aspect of service provided.
  
  
• INDIVIDUAL RESPONSBILITY: The hospital promotes individual responsibility and accountability. All people are empowered to identify problems, propose recommendations, and implement solutions.

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History and Description

Patton State Hospital is a major forensic mental hospital operated by the California Department of Mental Health. It is located in San Bernardino, California, a community of approximately 181,000 people. The hospital was first opened in August 1, 1893. In 1927 it was renamed Patton State Hospital after a member of the first Board of Managers, Harry Patton of Santa Barbara.

Patton State Hospital is currently a forensic hospital with a licensed bed capacity of 1287 for individuals who have been committed by the judicial system for treatment. Currently the hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of HealthCare Organizations (JCAHO). The Joint Commission's Board of Commissioner's approved a proposal to conduct all regular accreditation surveys on an unannounced basis beginning January 2006. Joint Commission standards deal with organizational quality of care issues and the safety of the environment in which care is provided. Anyone believing that he or she has pertinent and valid information about such matters may contact the Joint Commission in writing or by telephone (630-792-5000 or at www.jcaho.org).

The hospital currently provides psychiatric care and treatment to judicially committed, mentally disordered adult individuals. The Individuals served are assigned to a living unit, which is part of one of the seven Treatment Programs. The hospital is currently going through changes regarding how treatment is provided to the Individuals we serve. Currently treatment is delivered through a centralized approach, where the Individuals served and the staff, from throughout the Hospital, come together to participate in services within Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) Malls. Mall interventions are provided, as much as possible, in the context of real-life functioning and in the rhyme of life of the Individual. Thus, a PSR mall extends beyond the context of a building or place and its services are based on the needs of the Individual, not the needs of the program, the staff members or the institution.

PSR Mall are designed to insure that each Individual receives intensive and individual services to promote his/her increased wellness and ability to thrive in the world. All decisions regarding what is offered through each mall are driven by the needs of the Individuals served. Mall services are provided in an environment that is culturally sensitive and strength based. The concept of recovery shall be the guiding principal and operation framework for the mall system.

Each Individual served has a treatment team that they work with in developing the individual Wellness and Recovery Plan. The teams include a Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Social Worker, Rehabilitation Therapist, Registered Nurse, and Psychiatric Technician.

Patton State Hospital is located at the base of the San Bernardino mountains, 60 miles east of Los Angeles and 60 miles west of the low desert Palm Springs resort area. A diversity of attractions characterize San Bernardino, seat of the largest land mass county in the United States. The City of San Bernardino houses the California Theater of Performing Arts, a civic light opera, the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra, diverse outdoor recreation and major air transportation access. Housing costs in San Bernardino are substantially lower than those of many other Southern California urban areas. Year-round mountain recreation is only thirty minutes away in the 11,000 foot high San Bernardino range which includes the popular ski resorts of Mt. Baldy, Big Bear, and Wrightwood. Lake Arrowhead offers year-round recreation and aquatic sports, blending the quaint charm of this mountain village with a modern entertainment and shopping complex. To the northeast is the serenely beautiful California high desert, the Mojave, with Las Vegas less than a four hour drive.

Within easy commute of Patton State Hospital are major university campuses including CSU San Bernardino, Loma Linda University, and the University of Redlands. Within the area are the medical schools of the University of California, Los Angeles; University of Southern California; University of California, Irvine, and Loma Linda University. Teaching affiliations are available to qualified physicians at these institutions.

Typical of Southern California's gentle climate, winters are mild and summers are typified by hot, dry days and pleasant, balmy evenings. The area enjoys a Mediterranean-type climate with an average temperature of 67 degrees, and an average of 312 days of sunshine. Average annual rainfall is 15 inches.

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