WRAL Investigates why the truth about mental health hospitals remains hidden
A joint investigation by WRAL and North Carolina Health News uncovered a history of issues with two local mental health hospitals that cater to North Carolina's most vulnerable population, children.
That history was only uncovered by conducting interviews and making public records requests with local, state and federal agencies. The information took weeks to compile. Unfortunately, parents looking for help for their children in crisis don’t have that much time to find the best facility.
Jason Clark's daughter, Kayla, is no stranger to Holly Hill Mental Health Hospital in Raleigh. She has been involuntarily committed several times. His daughter even tried to escape earlier this year, but was stopped at the nurse's station.
When asked if he would send his daughter back to Holly Hill if needed, Clark answered “I wouldn’t want her to go back there."
Clark told WRAL Investigates that Kayla asked to leave during prior visits, which weren’t easy to schedule in the first place.
“When I finally did see her she was happy to see me and she would pretty much just be drooling and asking me if I could help her get out,” Clark said.
Clark supports involuntary commitment in cases like his daughter – who really needed help. He just wishes parents had more control.
“Every parent should have a say where their child is involuntary committed,” Clark said.
But WRAL Investigates found – even with more control – parents are still left in the dark when it comes to mental health facilities like Holly Hill.
WRAL Investigates asked State Rep. Sarah Crawford, D-Wake County, why you can go online and see inspections, scores and violations for regular hospitals, child care centers, nursing homes and restaurants, but not mental health hospitals.
“That’s very concerning,” she replied.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has a robust database of hospital inspections, quality of care and staff ratings. However, when you try to search many inpatient mental health hospitals, every category says information is not available.
“We need to make sure that any claims that are substantiated are publicly available to folks,” Crawford said.
WRAL Investigates asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services [CMS] about the lack of information.
In a statement, a CMS spokesperson said "Although CMS doesn’t give star ratings for psychiatric hospitals, consumers can still find valuable quality information by using the following CMS resources."
Those resources included with the statement were a spreadsheet you could download, but can't even decipher considering all of the categories, acronyms and codes that don’t necessarily reflect the actual quality of care. The other resource was the same online database that again has no information about the hospital’s performance.
Through a public records request, WRAL Investigates found a 2021 inspection Holly Hill was releasing patients with discharge papers signed by someone with no nurse's license and who didn't work for Holly Hill.
A couple of months later, the facility was place in immediate jeopardy – meaning it could lose federal payments – after two teens jumped over a fence and escaped. Inspectors also noted the staff failed to stop sexual interaction between patients on at least two occasions.
Just last year, investigators found issues with patient treatment plans not being done on time. Investigators also found multiple issues with the handling, administration and record-keeping of drugs.
All of that was news to Clark, because none of those inspections is readily available to parents.
Crawford says that needs to change.
“I do need to do a little research to find out how to handle this," Crawford said. "I think there’s an opportunity for us [state lawmakers] to take a look at this.”
For parents like Clark, change couldn’t come soon enough. He says more information could give parents piece of mind.
"If there isn’t transparency it makes me wonder what’s being hidden, because I’ve never known anything that’s been hidden by a company or corporation that’s good,” Clark said.
In previous stories about the care at Holly Hill, a hospital spokesperson told WRAL Investigates they were unable to provide information "about any specific individual due to HIPAA privacy laws."
The spokesperson added, "we can state that we strive to meet or exceed the expectations of all patients and their families."
If you're having suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, call or text 988. Veterans can press “1” after dialing 988 to connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. For texts, veterans should continue to text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.
