State Hospital Review Boards in Minnesota

For the past eight years Minnesota has had a review board for each state hospital serving the mentally ill and the mentally retarded. Each board consists of at least three individuals appointed by the commissioner of the department of public welfare. The board is an external review body in that members are not associated with the department or with the state hospital. It visits the hospital as frequently as required to review commitment papers and processes, assess the propriety of treatment procedures, ensure that each patient has an individualized treatment plan, interview patients and record their concerns, conduct a random review of patients' records, and meet with hospital staff. The board reports its findings to the commissioner, and to the head of the hospital.