Worcester M-POWER'S Privacy Campaign

Worcester M-POWER'S Privacy Campaign

Editor's Note: this article describes the recent campaign which Worcester M-POWER is still waging. The campaign organized by Worcester M-POWER seeks to provide privacy and dignity in: showering, toileting, and dressing, at Worcester State Hospital. The author participated in the campaign.

Overall the chapter members felt we did well at our July 12th meeting with hospital officials, and that the meeting was productive, professional and well chaired. Some members felt it was rude for some staff to walk out while the meeting was in progress. More time could have been allowed to chapter members to answer questions that the hospital officials had. That way members could schedule a time that we can meet uninterrupted and not feel insulted. A suggestion was made that at the next meeting with hospital officials there be a couple of places for other members to ask questions.

	In response to our demands after the last meeting with him on March 28th Worcester State Hospital Director, Mr. Ray Robinson, promised numerous changes in order to improve patient privacy and dignity at Worcester State Hospital. The changes he promised are as follows:
	After Worcester M- POWER presents a detailed plan for privacy for patients and after meeting with a safety officer, Mr. Robinson will tell us the amount of time needed to change the physical structure of the showers in order to make them private.
	Mr. Robinson promised to work on developing new policy procedures in order to promote flexible scheduling, independent showering and privacy.
	Due to patient complaints of harassment, Mr. Robinson promised to put into place further sensitivity training for new staff people in regards to privacy and sexual harassment.
	In order to combat an institutionalized atmosphere, Mr. Robinson promised that written procedures would be developed for staff to encourage patients to wear robes, and to close shower curtains while showering.
	Due to complaints of very hot or very cold water in the showers Mr. Robinson promised to check into water temperatures.
	Mr. Robinson agreed to allow shower inspections by Worcester Chapter members whom we choose with a 2 day notice.

Rita Barret said that Quality Management at Worcester State felt that we were really professional at our action with Ray Robinson; and she told Deni that she felt the Worcester Chapter should get everything they asked for because our demands were reasonable. The chapter has since decided by consensus that they want to press for all of the new suggestions made at the recent chapter meetings to further improve privacy at the hospital. These suggestions will be presented to Donna White, Worcester State's new Interim Chief Operating Officer.

During May, the Worcester Chapter Organizer, Deni Cohodas, toured the showers. The Worcester Chapter liaisons also met with Elaine Hill on May 3rd. Then the chapter met again on May 26th and again on June 23rd. The meetings were held in order to develop new positions to present to the Interim Chief Operating Officer, Donna White, at our meeting with her on July the 12th.

During her tour of the showers Deni discovered that the isolation bathrooms on units 3a-d and unit 6a are being used by staff, as staff only bathrooms. These bathrooms have signs on them the that read "staff only". Therefore, one demand made at the July 12th meeting was that these bathrooms be used by patients only, for more privacy. These private bathrooms had a tub and a toilet and chapter members felt that patient resources are slim enough without having them taken away for staff only use. It’s an outrage that during the shower tour at Worcester State Hospital, we saw that the private bathrooms—which were previously used as isolation bathrooms for patients with infectious diseases— were at that time being used by hospital staff as “staff only” bathrooms, while patients had to use gang showers.

Other demands made at the July 12th meeting include the following:

	Remove the tubs from the community rooms where patients now shower.
	Add dressing areas in the community shower rooms that are completely enclosed. We'd like these areas to have curtains which hang from the ceilings, modeled after the units private hospitals use to enclose beds.
	Formulation of a new nursing policy acceptable to the D.M.H. Central Office which promotes independent showering for all patients who are not physically disabled or on constant observation.
	Pull cords be installed within easy reach of showers and tubs for emergencies.
	Non skid decals be placed on the floors of tub and shower areas.
	Give Worcester M-POWER the right to inspect privacy conditions with a one hour notice The right for patients requiring assistance to choose the staff person who will assist them.
	Install containers for disposing of personal hygiene products.
	The right for patients to take more than one shower a day. For physical and emotional reasons members felt this would be therapeutic for patients and promote a recovery atmosphere at the hospital.
	Privacy screens in patient dormitories.
	Due to reports of bacterial infections from unsanitary floors in the shower areas, Worcester members also requested that sanitary tests be taken of the floors and corrective course of action followed through on if indicated by the tests.

Other details of the chapters demands included hand rails for people to grab onto while showering and bathing, lockers which have locks on them, and privacy panels for urinals.

We know that the interim Director Chief Operating Officer is Donna White. Fran Gray and Jo- Ellen Hurd chaired the meetings with Donna on July 12th and August 30th. We also invited Kevin Howley, Ray Mestre and Rita Barrett to these meetings.

Kevin was on vacation for August 30th and Ray could not make the same meeting. But both have been supportive to Worcester M-POWER by helping us with strategy.

On August 11 Interim Chief Operating Officer, Donna White, sent a letter to the Worcester Chapter. In the letter she addressed our demands. Her letter states that:

	40 privacy screens were ordered for the shower rooms.
	A new protocol may be written in regards to flexible shower scheduling for patients.
	Sexual Harassment and Sensitivity Trainings will be increased from yearly trainings.
	Bathrobes and sponge slippers will be ordered for patients who require or wish to have them.
	The issue of water temperature was investigated.
	Her letter briefly states that “Staff are not using isolation bathrooms.”
	Due to budget considerations “emergent call beepers” rather than emergency pull cords is being referred to the Safety Committee.
	The request for ceiling hung shower curtains for privacy was referred to the Safety Committee.
	In regards to the sanitation in the shower rooms the letter states: “The floors are swept and washed daily. For spills-more often. No reports of widespread fungal infections have been reported.”
	“The Clinical Planning Committee approved a Pet Therapy Proposal for Worcester State Hospital."

In other news not related to the shower campaign: our Chapter meetings are now held at the Aldersgate Church in South Main St. in Worcester. The minister at Aldersgate is an ex-community organizer and very supportive of empowerment and people with psychiatric disabilities.

The police taskforce was organized to determine changing the policy of handcuffing mental patients in paddy wagons. The police taskforce has decided to continue with this practice as policy. Members are trying to get information on the meetings with the police task force from Jerry Kokernak.

Deni has been considered , by the Board of Directors, as a teacher to the student/advocates of the Peer Advocate Leadership Academy. Deni is scheduled to leave her current position as the Worcester Chapter’s organizer on July 1. There will be 15 classes over 17 weeks this summer and fall. There is an interview in Springfield on June 15, and an orientation July 16. Classes start on July 7th. Deni will continue as an organizer/consultant for 8 hours a week. Her work for the chapter has been greatly reduced and she will be missed. She works a 13 to 14 hour day on Thursdays for the Peer Advocacy Project.

Introducing a new organization CHANGE: Consumers/Survivors, Helping, Advocating, and Networking for Growth and Empowerment. This new organization is being developed by the Massachusetts Leadership Academy Planning Team. It’s goal is to create a statewide network of consumers/survivors in formation to promote the following values: Respect, Empowerment, Choice, Diversity, Community, Honesty, Trust, and Creativity. The future and relationship of CHANGE and M- POWER is yet to be determined. We are grateful for the support of the Center for Mental Health Services, CONTAC, the West Virginia Leadership Academy, and Advocacy Unlimited of Connecticut for their help and expertise with this project.

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