March 7, 2008

To: All DHS employees

From: Bruce Goldberg, M.D., director

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"If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity."
~John F. Kennedy

This past week I had the great pleasure of participating in two events that really highlight the progress we are making in achieving a key part of our mission -- to keep people safe. There is no single agenda more important for us than ensuring the safety and health of vulnerable populations. As such, it is always a tremendously gratifying experience to see the substantive results of our efforts and those of our partners in this area.

The first event -- Tuesday -- was a news conference to announce the new rules that went into effect March 1 to increase the number of nursing assistants in nursing facilities. This change is a major step forward in improving the safety of some of Oregon’s most vulnerable citizens -- the 8,000 residents of Oregon's 142 nursing facilities.

More nursing assistants will mean more attention for residents. And that will result in a safer environment for their patients -- fewer falls, better pain management, greater mobility and other improvements. In two years Oregon will have an additional 500-700 nursing assistants providing direct care to nursing facility residents.

Particularly moving to me were the comments made by one nursing assistant at the event who welcomed the additional time she would be able to spend with the patients for whom she cares, now that there will be more nursing assistants on staff. Her genuine concern for her patients brought home what this change will mean at the personal level not only for nursing facility residents, but also for those who care for them.

The second event -- Wednesday -- was a celebration in the Barbara Roberts Human Services Building lobby of March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. And again, the emphasis was on keeping people safe.

The event kicked off a new campaign to encourage people to report suspected abuse of individuals with developmental disabilities. The campaign’s theme is "Look…Listen…Report" and it's a reminder to all of us that we as a community are responsible for ensuring the safety of our most vulnerable neighbors. If we see a problem, we cannot, we must not look away. Each of us must do what we can to report our concerns and suspicions, and not assume someone else will step in if we walk away.

The DHS Office of Investigations and Training operates a toll-free number for reporting suspected abuse of persons with developmental disabilities: 1-866-406-4287. You can find more about reporting abuse, including a list of mandatory reporters, on the DHS Web site: www.oregon.gov/DHS/dd/abuse/reporting_abuse.shtml.

This new voluntary reporting effort will add another layer of protection for our citizens on top of Oregon's already-strong mandatory abuse reporting system. And coming down the road are more safety-related initiatives -- among them a new Web site with provider compliance and complaint histories will go live in a few months, and a new statewide abuse registry to screen potential workers for past abuse will be ready next year.

Again, these initiatives represent real, on-the-ground changes that will make a positive difference in the lives of the many people who depend on us and others for their well-being and safety. I am very proud of the progress Oregon is making in this area, and of the contributions by DHS and our partners that have made this progress possible.

Everyone deserves to live in safety. We must continue to move forward with vigor and an ongoing commitment to ensure the safety of those under our care.

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