Transcript Living Matters - NAMI Tennessee Home Page

A Presentation By:
E. Douglas Varney
Commissioner, Department of Mental
Health and Substance Abuse Services
9/27/2013

Customer Focused Government (CFG)




Goal 1: Effective and Efficient Management of RMHI
Facilities
Goal 2: Strengthen and Improve Adult Mental
Health and Substance Abuse Services
Goal 3: Expand and Improve Children’s Mental
Health Services
Goal 4: Reduce the Abuse of Alcohol, Prescription
Drugs, & other Addictive Substances

Effective and Efficient Management of RMHI
Facilities

Action Steps:
 1.) Complete a system summary of barriers to
discharge. 2.) Review technologies required for
Electronic Health Medical Records system in RMHIs.
3.) Submit budget request to secure Electronic Medical
Records technology. 4.) Increase Telehealth evaluations
to reduce the amount of unnecessary sheriff transports
to RMHIs. 5.) Review monthly bed day report
generated through the Division of Hospital Services.

Strengthen and Improve Adult Mental Health
and Substance Abuse Services

Action Steps:
 1.) Implement new monitoring system that is
coordinated across all departmental divisions. 2.)
Create a uniform data outcome assessments tool. 3.)
Seek out additional federal and other non-state funding
sources to expand mental health and substance abuse
services. 4.) expand additional housing and treatment
options for persons diagnosed with mental health and
substance abuse disorders.

Expand and Improve Children’s Mental Health
Services

Action Steps:
 1.) Develop and promote implementation of Children's
Best Practice Guidelines. 2.) Evaluate and improve the
Children's crisis continuum services. 3.) Actively
participate and support the Children's Subcabinet
Working Group.

Reduce the Abuse of Alcohol, Prescription Drugs,
and other Addictive Substances

Action Steps:
 1.) Develop and implement a statewide media campaign on
prescription drugs by 1/1/2014. 2.) Increase the number of
community coalitions related to prescription drug abuse. 3.)
Increase the monitoring of methadone clinics. 4.) Expand
treatment services for people addicted to prescription drugs.
5.) Increase by 9 the number of regional drug courts. 6.)
Establish a base line of standards of practice on data
regarding drug courts. 7.) Develop 10 low cost residential
housing options. 8.) Establish that treatment services for
certain DUI offenders are based upon evidence based clinical
assessments.

Contact Information
E. Douglas Varney
 Commissioner, Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Services
 601 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN, 37243
 [email protected]
 615-532-6503
