The patients rights representative program: design of an ombudsman service for mental patients.
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.
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