Clinical Operations

The Clinical Operations Division facilitates the development, evaluation and maintenance of clinical standards for California’s Department of State Hospitals (DSH).

The division supports a “ground up” change model where executive level decision making is based on input from unit staff at each facility. This model provides clinical staff with a voice for communicating their critical needs, which can then be incorporated into the decision making, priority identification and planning process at headquarters in Sacramento. Conversely, the Clinical Operations Division provides a conduit of clear, effective and timely communication from headquarters to clinical leadership and staff.

As DSH continues to grow and evolve, the Clinical Operations Division is committed to providing evaluation and treatment in a safe and responsible manner, seeking innovation and excellence in hospital operations and across a continuum of care and settings.

Clinical Operations Advisory Council (COAC)

At the heart of the Clinical Operations Division is the Clinical Operations Advisory Council (COAC), an interdisciplinary team of clinicians from the state hospitals who are devoted to the quality of clinical care and therapeutic services we provide.

COAC works closely with clinical leaders to identify best practices within our facilities, as well as facilities outside of California and in the current academic literature. While conducting onsite reviews of clinical services, COAC gathers data to design data collection methodologies. These methodologies are used to better understand our patients, identify patterns and trends and create tools for mentoring clinical staff.

The process supports the Clinical Operations Division’s “ground up” change model where executive level decision making is based on input from unit staff at each facility. It also assists the department in identifying, designing and developing training programs based on the facilities’ needs.

Data Analytics, Treatment & Assessment (DATA)

Nationwide, data is increasingly used to inform medical decisions. Measuring the quality of clinical care and tracking it over time is important to the community, patients and care providers. Within DSH, data can be utilized in developing strategies and policies to mitigate violence risk.

Additionally, DSH is developing an Electronic Health Record which will quickly increase the volume and complexity of data in the coming years. The department must equip itself with a mechanism to ensure that quality clinical data can be delivered to stakeholders in a timely and efficient manner.

To assist in these objectives, DSH established the Data Analytics, Treatment and Assessment (DATA) unit in the Clinical Operations Division.

The DATA unit, which is comprised of the Analytics and Research Team (ART) in the UC Davis Research unit at DSH-Napa, focuses on the following clinical objectives: Ensuring enterprise data integrity, understanding current business data architecture, assisting in the development of new data collection systems, and analyzing, reporting and publishing clinical data.

Psychopharmacology Resource Network (PRN)

The Psychopharmacology Resource Network (PRN) enhances DSH’s psychopharmacology practices through consultation, education, policy change and outcomes research. PRN psychiatrists assist clinicians in medication management, provide current research-based treatment recommendations, and aid in the patient risk assessment process.

The network is actively involved in making medication policy decisions. PRN psychiatrists evaluate the impact of prescribing practices on hospital-wide outcomes and use their research-based knowledge to drive policy changes and enhance treatment both system-wide and locally.