title: The patients rights representative program: design of an ombudsman service for mental patients.
abstract: The article describes an experimental rights program operating in mental hospitals in one state's department of public welfare. The presentation of the program's internal/external design includes information on goals and objectives, structure, work activities, and reviews of the program to date. The program is linked to the general trend toward developing ombudsman services; several additional research needs are identified.
mesh_terms: D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010414:Pennsylvania; D010865:Pilot Projects