OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 4, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alameda Health System (AHS) announced that John George Psychiatric Hospital (JGPH), known for creating the Alameda Model, which resulted in an 80% reduction in delay for psychiatric care and greatly prevented the ER boarding of psychiatric patients, has once again been recognized for its excellence in behavioral health care. Both the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), California Chapter, and Reach Out, a part of the Alameda County Network of Mental Health Clients, have recently honored the facility for continually improving the lives of people living with mental illness.
NAMI California bestowed its inaugural Outstanding Treatment Provider award on JGPH as well as honored it with its Zero Tolerance for Seclusion and Restraints award. The Outstanding Treatment Provider award was created to recognize overall excellence of care in behavior health services.
"We are proud to be recognized by NAMI California with these prestigious awards, including the first Outstanding Treatment Provider recognition ever awarded," said Guy Qvistgaard, chief administrative officer of JGPH. "These awards reflect the hard work and dedication of our team in providing the best possible patient and family-centered behavioral health care."
Alameda County Network of Mental Health Client's Reach Out, a client-run hospital visitation program, is also honoring JGPH for its outstanding Occupational Therapy and Activity Therapy departments. The organization, which provides emotional support and supplies to behavioral health patients, is celebrating its 25th year anniversary as a community resource for patients and is recognizing outstanding provider partners it has worked with over the years.
"Our Occupational Therapy and Activity Therapy departments are excited to be honored by Reach Out on its 25th anniversary," said Terri Daugherty, manager of Occupational Therapy and Activity Therapy at John George Psychiatric Hospital. "This award reinforces the importance of providing patients with the necessary tools to live a full life with therapeutic activities such as the use of our meditative labyrinth as well as art therapy, wellness groups, stress management and coping skills in the treatment and care of our patients."
To learn more information, please visit our website at: http://www.johngeorgeahs.org
About John George Psychiatric Hospital (JGPH)
John George Psychiatric Hospital, located in San Leandro, California, is part of Alameda Health System (AHS) a major public health care provider recognized as a world-class patient and family centered system of care. The facility provides psychiatric emergency and acute care services to adults experiencing severe and disabling mental illnesses, and treats all who seek care regardless of their economic or social status. The hospital provides psychiatric care for nearly 100 percent of all acute psychiatric emergencies in Alameda County, and is a leader in the use of data analytics to formulate effective care decisions. Emphasis on best-practice behavioral techniques and data analytics has enabled John George to rise in the ranks of psychiatric hospital and units nationwide.
About Alameda Health System (AHS)
Alameda Health System, a major public health care provider headquartered in Oakland, California, is recognized as a world-class patient and family centered system of care with more than 4,500 employees, 1,000 physicians and 480 volunteers. Their facilities include Highland Hospital, a major regional trauma center and teaching hospital; Alameda Hospital, an acute care facility providing emergency, in-patient and outpatient services in Alameda; San Leandro Hospital, which provides emergency and in-patient hospital care services; John George Psychiatric Hospital, an acute and emergency care facility in San Leandro; Fairmont Hospital, an acute rehabilitation hospital and skilled nursing facility, also in San Leandro; and four ambulatory wellness centers in Oakland as well as in Newark and Hayward.