Gettysburg, PA, April 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OPEN MINDS announced Grafton Integrated Health Network (Grafton) — a behavioral health care organization partnering with children, adolescents, and adults with complex challenges — as its latest bronze partner for the 2018 OPEN MINDS Executive Institute series. The partnership will focus on Grafton’s UKERU crisis management system, and the new crisis management models that Grafton has developed.
Through the partnership, Grafton will expand its outreach to executives in the field. Grafton will be a sponsor of four upcoming OPEN MINDS events in 2018, with featured exhibits at the 2018 OPEN MINDS Strategy and Innovations Institute in New Orleans in June, and the 2018 OPEN MINDS Management Best Practices Institute in Long Beach, in August. At the Long Beach Institute, Grafton is underwriting a plenary town hall and demonstration track. In addition, Grafton will sponsor a lunch-and-learn event at the upcoming 2018 I/DD Executive Summit (see https://strategy.openminds.com/). Finally, Grafton and OPEN MINDS will also collaborate on a co-produced seminar on crisis management, in early 2019.
“Grafton’s objective is helping clients thrive in the least restrictive environment consistent with achieving the best outcome,” said Grafton Chief Executive Officer, Jamie Stewart. “The platforms provided by OPEN MINDS are ideal for helping to share our message of comfort vs. control.”
Grafton will showcase its innovative, hands-free, trauma informed crisis management system, Ukeru® at the upcoming Institutes later this year. Ukeru is a crisis management technique rooted in the belief that the use of physical restraints is not only unnecessary, but also unproductive and that all intervention should be built on an approach of comfort versus control. Ukeru provides training on the conceptual ideas — such as trauma informed care and conflict resolution — as well as the physical techniques that minimize the need for restraints and seclusion.
“Our team at OPEN MINDS has covered the impact of seclusion and restraint on consumers and caregivers for years,” said OPEN MINDS Chief Executive Officer, Monica E. Oss. “I’m looking forward to working with the Grafton team on education about the state-of-the-art in crisis management – bringing best practices to the field.”
Over a decade ago, Grafton made a commitment to minimize or, where possible, eliminate the use of restraint and seclusion. For individuals who have experienced traumatic events, the impact of re-experiencing that trauma through the use of these techniques can be devastating. The effort has resulted in compelling data, experience and, most importantly, outcomes – including reducing the use of restraints by 99.8 percent, lowering workers’ compensation policy costs and reducing employee turnover for a total return on investment of over $16 million. Through Ukeru, Grafton is now sharing its expertise with other organizations seeking to minimize restraint and seclusion.
ABOUT GRAFTON
With nearly 60 years of clinical experience and data in behavioral health and intellectual disabilities, Grafton is uniquely qualified to deliver improved outcomes. We often take – and, based on clearly defined indicators, are successful with – the most challenging clients, many of whom have a co-occurring diagnosis. Grafton collaborates with communities, families and other health care organizations to provide the best possible care and achieve better outcomes. Learn more at: www.grafton.org.
ABOUT OPEN MINDS
OPEN MINDS is a national market intelligence and strategic advisory firm focused on the sectors of the health and human service field serving consumers with chronic conditions and complex support needs. Founded in 1987 and based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the 175+ associates provide market insights and innovative management solutions designed to improve operational and strategic performance. Learn more at www.openminds.com.