-Caveat Lector- ----Original Message Follows---- From: David Oaks - Support Coalition <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: undisclosed-recipients:; Subject: Florida: Wackenhut opens for-profit "mental health" facility Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 22:33:22 -0600 (CST) THE PRISON INDUSTRY & PSYCHIATRIC INDUSTRY ARE MERGING: The iron prison is merging with the chemical prison. Get ready for "Psych. Crime, Incorporated." See industry news releases below [feel free to redistribute]. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Florida: Wackenhut opens for-profit mental health facility. PR Newswire October 31, 2000 Atlantic Shores Healthcare Opens New South Florida State Hospital Campus/Facility PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. This week's opening of the new South Florida State Hospital campus marks the most visible milestone yet for the nation's first comprehensive state psychiatric hospital to be fully privatized. The dramatic changes at the hospital began in November 1998, when Atlantic Shores Healthcare, Inc. began operating the facility in an unprecedented public-private partnership agreement with the Florida Department of Children and Families. Staff members have already begun working from their offices at the new campus, while the remainder of the facilities -- including treatment and residential facilities -- will be phased into service over the next few weeks, according to Sal Barbera, hospital administrator. Phase I of the new residential and treatment centers will be operational by November 1, with the balance of the project being completed by year-end, according to Barbera. He noted that the new design provides varied housing alternatives along with on- site medical facilities. "In addition to its unique privatized status, South Florida State Hospital is one of the first new comprehensive public mental health facilities to be built in decades," said Dr. George C. Zoley, chairman of the board for Atlantic Shores Healthcare, Inc. "We, therefore, have the opportunity to create a national model, implementing innovative programs that reflect today's best practices in psychiatric treatment, while also improving operational efficiency." Among the more than 100 attendees attending opening ceremonies on October 27 were Dr. Zoley; Carol M. Brown, president of Atlantic Shores Healthcare, Inc.; Dale W. Frick, vice president for mental health services; Celeste Putnam, director of mental health programs for the Department of Children and Families; Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth; State Senator Howard Forman; State Representatives Debby Sanderson and Debbie Wasserman Schultz; and numerous other state officials, mental healthcare professionals, advocates and guests. The new campus has as its focal point a village-like Town Center complete with clock tower, gazebo, covered walkways and ornamental landscaping. By creating an environment that permits maximum person-to-person interaction, this design will play a central role in helping the residents prepare for their return to the community, Barbera explained. "The distinctly non-institutional atmosphere not only improves the mental health care experience for those we serve, it also plays an integral role in their treatment and recovery," said Barbera, the hospital's chief executive. Key milestones achieved since privatization include full accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, for the first time in the hospital's 40-plus year history. JCAHO accreditation was achieved in September 1999, ten months earlier than required by Atlantic Shores' contract with the Department of Children and Families. A variety of other indicators reflect significant improvement. Both admissions and discharges during the 1999-2000 state fiscal year were at their highest levels in a decade, while only 3.4 percent of those discharged were readmitted within 30 days -- a rate nearly 50 percent below JCAHO-accredited state hospitals' national average. "People are admitted to South Florida State Hospital with a specific psychiatric diagnosis, and are progressing through a documented treatment plan," Barbera explained. As a result, the average length of stay for those newly admitted to the hospital has also dropped dramatically. As of Nov. 1, 1998, the average length of stay was 8.27 years. For those admitted since then, the average length of stay is just 185 days. "In addition, the treatment experience has been greatly enhanced," Barbera added. As an example, he cited the hospital's success in significantly reducing the use of restraints prior to moving to the new campus. In the year prior to Atlantic Shores' management, the hospital recorded an average of 21.6 restraint events each month. By contrast, after intensive staff training in Crisis Prevention Intervention, the hospital has now achieved three consecutive months with no restraint incidents at all. Likewise, the use of seclusion has also been reduced significantly, and is now far below the national average of JCAHO-accredited state hospitals. A variety of initiatives are underway to expand the hospital's role as a community mental healthcare education resource. Atlantic Shores has created a formal relationship with Nova Southeastern University to provide medical student training and occupational therapy programs, and other university affiliations are being developed. On its new campus, the hospital will provide meeting space for community mental healthcare groups, and the Administration Building will host nationally recognized art shows showcasing work of the mentally ill. "Shelters and Structures," the first of those shows, opens to the public with the opening of the hospital, with works from the permanent collection of the National Exhibition of Art by the Mentally Ill. "With the support of the Florida Department of Children and Families, we have been able to make remarkable progress," Barbera added. "We look forward to continuing to work closely with community-based facilities in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach counties to provide ongoing leadership in the mental health system." Atlantic Shores Healthcare, Inc. is based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and also manages the Atlantic Shores Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, a 74-bed accredited psychiatric healthcare facility. The company provides comprehensive health and mental health care services in both the public and private sectors. It has over 500 healthcare and mental health professionals and the experience of administrative operations in clinical and residential settings. Atlantic Shores Healthcare, Inc. is a subsidiary of Wackenhut Corrections Corporation (NYSE: WHC). SOURCE Atlantic Shores Healthcare, Inc. CONTACT: Linda Lewis, Atlantic Shores Healthcare, 954-428-4477, or [EMAIL PROTECTED]; or Patrick Cannan, Wackenhut Corrections Corporation, 561-691-6643, or [EMAIL PROTECTED] URL: <http://www.prnewswire.com>http://www.prnewswire.com Netherlands Antilles: Contract signed with Wackenhut. We tried to stop them but oh well. Wackenhut Corrections To Provide ManagementConsultant Services For Netherlands Antilles Prison PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Wackenhut Corrections Corporation announced today that its subsidiary Wackenhut Corrections Corporation N.V. (WCCNV) signed a contract with the Government of the Netherlands Antilles for management consultant services at the Koraal Specht Prison facility in Curacao. The contract, which is effective immediately, is for an initial term of twelve months and will generate revenues totaling $3.8 million. Dr. George C. Zoley, vice chairman and chief executive officer of Wackenhut Corrections, said, "We welcome this opportunity to extend our private-public partnership with the Netherlands Antilles and look forward to working with the Government to develop Koraal Specht Prison. Our management consultant agreement is specifically designed to turn Koraal Specht prison into a safe, secure and efficient correctional facility that allows for and facilitates a humane level of incarceration consistent with international standards for inmates, employees, volunteers and visitors." The Netherlands Antilles is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and includes the islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maartin, and is located thirty miles off the coast of Venezuela. WCC is the industry leader in the international corrections market, with awards or contracts for 55 percent of the private prison beds located outside the United States. The Company has contracts/awards to manage 55 correctional/detention facilities in North America, Europe, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand with a total of 39,522 beds. The Company also provides prisoner transportation services; electronic monitoring for home detainees; correctional health care; and mental health services. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To join international resistance to forced psychiatry: http://www.MindFreedom.org ### Any election in which only two individuals are allowed exposure is, by definition, a fraud. 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