There is more turnover among Montana State Hospital leadership. This comes as the state prepares to apply for federal recertification.
The state’s psychiatric hospital for adults has gone through a handful of leaders since it lost federal certification in 2022 due to patient deaths.
Jennifer Savage’s last day as interim CEO was July 10. Savage was the third person to lead the hospital since it lost federal certification.
The state health department says Savage is no longer a state employee, but did not release any additional details, citing worker privacy.
Officials say Kevin Flanigan will take over as the permanent CEO in August. Flanigan was the head of Ridgecrest Regional Hospital in southern California. He also was the head of the Maine Medicaid program.
Flanigan will be charged with continuing the overhaul of the hospital. State officials plan to reapply for federal certification this year.
State Medical Officer Dr. Doug Harrington will oversee hospital operations until Flanigan comes onboard.
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Montanans living with severe mental illness are cycling in and out of ERs, jails, shelters and the state psychiatric hospital. Many never get the long-term help they need. One Missoula woman has been caught in that cycle for years. Her daughter uprooted her life to help. MTPR's Aaron Bolton brings us their story and reports on whether proposed reforms to the state mental health system offer them hope.
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Legislation that would allow the state psychiatric hospital to deny court-ordered commitments is on hold. State health officials and advocates disagree about whether more patients can be served in the community.
