Utilization Management Nurse

Region IV employs a Registered Nurse to monitor the bed census for the Acute Care Project in the region’s community hospitals. The UM Nurse travels to the community hospitals and collaborates with the treatment teams in order to expedite each consumer’s discharge back into the community.  When a consumer is not responding to community treatment, the UM Nurse evaluates the consumers’ appropriateness for admission to Central State or Piedmont Geriatric Hospitals and makes recommendations to the Regional Authorization Committee. The UM Nurse can also serve as a helpful resource with non Project-funded consumers who present difficulties with discharge or placement.

Regional Authorization Committee (RAC)

The Regional Authorization Committee (RAC), composed of representatives from the Region IV CSB/BHAs, Central State Hospital, and Piedmont Geriatric Hospital, is charged with census management of CSH and PGH.  As such, the RAC approves admissions to either state hospital from a community hospital, and also approves funding for consumers in the Acute Care Project. The RAC additionally approves the use of all regional Discharge Assistance Project (DAP) funds and monitors the DAP plans on a quarterly basis.  DAP funds are available for consumers leaving CSH and PGH either on the civil side or through the forensic process. The RAC meets weekly at CSH.

Regional Programs Currently in Operation

Acute Care Project

Since 1999, Region IV has provided funds to uninsured CSB consumers receiving inpatient MH treatment in local community hospitals. This program allows consumers the opportunity to receive the same short term care that insured consumers can receive outside of the state hospital setting.  This program has allowed the region to maintain a civil census at CSH at or below 100, while providing over $15 million in funding to local hospitals serving our consumers.  For information on referring a consumer to the Acute Care Project or a state hospital, click here.

Enhancing public mental health in Central Virginia

The Regional Jail Team serves mentally ill inmates in the Richmond City Jail, Riverside Regional Jail, Southside Regional Jail, Dinwiddie County Jail, and Central State Hospital. The team consists of a licensed clinical psychologist, a forensic psychiatrist, two case managers, a discharge planner, and an administrative assistant.  The jail team has been in operation since July 2004.  For additional information, click here.

Regional Jail Team

The Regional Behavioral Team serves consumers from Region IV, mostly diagnosed MH/MR, whose behavior problems cause them to be at risk of homelessness or harming someone. The team consists of a Licensed Applied Psychologist and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. They have been collaborating on behavior plans for consumers since September 2004. Click here for further information.

Regional Behavioral Team

Rubicon CSU admits consumers who are experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis but may not need an inpatient level of care.  Most admissions are voluntarily, but Rubicon is also equipped to handle certain types of TDO admissions. The CSU has been open since October 2003 and houses a total of 8 beds. Services provided include medication management, case management, group programming, and nursing services. Rubicon is located in the Northside of Richmond.  Click here for the CSU admission and treatment protocols.

Rubicon Crisis Stabilization Unit

New Directions has operated a short term residential program for MH/SA consumers since November 2005.  New Directions took over the management of Turning Point and moved to a different location at CSH.  The 28 day program specializes in substance abuse treatment for consumers with co-occurring mental health disorders who require complex medication and treatment.

New Directions Short Term Residential