OMH reps review LaSalle outpatient clinic

Representatives from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) Bureau of Inspection and Certification arrived on campus on June 16th to conduct an unannounced review of LaSalle’s outpatient clinic.

“It is standard practice for licensing bureaus to visit agencies such as LaSalle to review services, procedures, practices and policies,” said Mark Silverbush, LaSalle’s associate executive director for quality, strategy and compliance. The majority of the material reviewed focused on client services including assessment, treatment planning, service delivery, risk assessment, safety planning, client engagement and retention, documentation, discharge planning, clinical leadership, administration, and co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders.

While it will be several weeks until the official results of the review are received, the general findings of the two OMH reviewers was very positive. “In their exit interview, OMH reviewers were struck by the delivery of ‘astute clinical interventions’ with a ‘highly complex population’ of youth,” said David Wallace, LaSalle’s direct0r of clinical services. “They were impressed by LaSalle’s cross training, comprehensive clinical evaluations, thoughtful integration of a youth’s clinical, case management, educational, medical and psychiatric services in treatment planning.” In addition they were pleased by the high level discussions about youth, their risk and needs in team meetings.

The CCL is also licensed by the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) and has been successfully reviewed ;many times by that licensing authority. Based on multiple positive reviews by OMH and OASAS, LaSalle will likely apply for what is known as a co-located, integrated license which will allow LaSalle to operate its outpatient clinic under one set of regulations and standards and thereby streamline many of the documentation and other administration practices, and provide integrated treatment more efficiently.

“It is highly unusual for a clinic as young as ours to receive such high marks,” said Associate Executive Director Anne Moscinski. “It is an indication of a dedicated and high caliber staff. That was quickly identified and complimented by OMH reviewers.”

LaSalle Executive Director Bill Wolff congratulated staff for their ongoing and consistent efforts to operate the CCL well. “As you have been working to improve the overall operation and viability of the Counseling Center at LaSalle, it is rewarding to know that the treatment operation of the clinic is so highly regarded,” he said.

LaSalle’s CCL staff is driven to improve their outpatient program by an awareness that managed care will direct the entire field to more and more reliance on services delivered in clinics like LaSalle’s CCL.

Watch LaSalle’s website for further news about the OMH review and anticipated relicensing of the Counseling Center at LaSalle School.

LaSalle School is a leader in programs and services for youth and families in crisis offering a variety of programs designed to meet their needs including specialized residential placement, day service education, and alternative to detention services. The Counseling Center at LaSalle is an OMH and OASAS licensed outpatient behavioral health clinic located at LaSalle School, and currently implementing ACE treatment practices with youth and families. LaSalle is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), and affiliated with the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA), and the national Alliance for Strong Families and Communities. LaSalle is a member of The New York State Coalition of 853 Schools.