SAN LEANDRO, Calif., March 11, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) California recently appointed Guy Qvistgaard, administrator for John George Psychiatric Hospital (JGPH), to its Board of Directors. JGPH is a nationally-recognized acute psychiatric care facility and a member of Alameda Health System (AHS).
NAMI California is a grass roots organization of families and individuals whose lives have been affected by serious mental illness. The organization advocates for lives of quality and respect, without discrimination and stigma, for all of their constituents by providing leadership in advocacy, legislation, policy development, education and support throughout California.
Qvistgaard joins the NAMI California Board of Directors with a background of more than 16 years in hospital operations and 33 years of behavioral health experience. Known as a thought leader in the field of acute psychiatric care administration, Qvistgaard has been instrumental in elevating JGPH's patient satisfaction scores to the top 25 percent of psychiatric units and hospitals nationwide.
"We are delighted that Guy Qvistgaard's leadership in the field of behavioral health is being recognized by NAMI's California Board of Directors," said AHS Chief Executive Officer Wright L. Lassiter, III. "Under his guidance, John George Psychiatric Hospital has become a nationally recognized leader in behavioral health innovation with its focus on a patient-centered model of care. We partner with NAMI's affiliate group in Alameda County and are strong supporters of its national advocacy efforts to help the millions of Americans who face mental health issues."
Qvistgaard was also recently recognized with the Alameda County Mental Health Board Community Service Award for extraordinary impact on the lives of people affected by mental illness.
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 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 hospitals 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. Its facilities include Highland Hospital, a major regional trauma center and teaching hospital; 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.