1998 Minnesota Code
Chapters 245 - 267 Public Welfare and Related Activities
Chapter 246 Public Institutions
Section 246.018 Office of medical director.

246.018 Office of medical director.

Subdivision 1. Established. The office of medical director within the department of human services is established.

Subd. 2. Medical director. The commissioner of human services shall appoint a medical director. The medical director must be a psychiatrist certified by the board of psychiatry.

Subd. 3. Duties. The medical director shall:

(1) oversee the clinical provision of inpatient mental health services provided in the state's regional treatment centers;

(2) recruit and retain psychiatrists to serve on the state medical staff established in subdivision 4;

(3) consult with the commissioner of human services, the assistant commissioner of mental health, community mental health center directors, and the regional treatment center governing bodies to develop standards for treatment and care of patients in regional treatment centers and outpatient programs;

(4) develop and oversee a continuing education program for members of the regional treatment center medical staff;

(5) consult with the commissioner on the appointment of the chief executive officers for regional treatment centers; and

(6) participate and cooperate in the development and maintenance of a quality assurance program for regional treatment centers that assures that residents receive quality inpatient care and continuous quality care once they are discharged or transferred to an outpatient setting.

Subd. 4. Regional treatment center medical staff. (a) The commissioner of human services shall establish a regional treatment center medical staff which shall be under the clinical direction of the office of medical director.

(b) The medical director, in conjunction with the regional treatment center medical staff, shall:

(1) establish standards and define qualifications for physicians who care for residents in regional treatment centers;

(2) monitor the performance of physicians who care for residents in regional treatment centers; and

(3) recommend to the commissioner changes in procedures for operating regional treatment centers that are needed to improve the provision of medical care in those facilities.

HIST: 1989 c 282 art 4 s 62