246.018 Office of medical director. 

    Subdivision 1.    Established.  The office of medical 
 director within the department of human services is established. 

    Subd. 2.    Medical director.  The commissioner of human 
 services shall appoint a medical director.  The medical director 
 must be a psychiatrist certified by the board of psychiatry. 

    Subd. 3.    Duties.  The medical director shall: 

    (1) oversee the clinical provision of inpatient mental 
 health services provided in the state's regional treatment 
 centers; 

    (2) recruit and retain psychiatrists to serve on the state 
 medical staff established in subdivision 4; 

    (3) consult with the commissioner of human services, the 
 assistant commissioner of mental health, community mental health 
 center directors, and the regional treatment center governing 
 bodies to develop standards for treatment and care of patients 
 in regional treatment centers and outpatient programs; 

    (4) develop and oversee a continuing education program for 
 members of the regional treatment center medical staff; 

    (5) consult with the commissioner on the appointment of the 
 chief executive officers for regional treatment centers; and 

    (6) participate and cooperate in the development and 
 maintenance of a quality assurance program for regional 
 treatment centers that assures that residents receive quality 
 inpatient care and continuous quality care once they are 
 discharged or transferred to an outpatient setting. 

    Subd. 4.    Regional treatment center medical staff.  (a)
 The commissioner of human services shall establish a regional 
 treatment center medical staff which shall be under the clinical 
 direction of the office of medical director. 

    (b) The medical director, in conjunction with the regional 
 treatment center medical staff, shall: 

    (1) establish standards and define qualifications for 
 physicians who care for residents in regional treatment centers; 

    (2) monitor the performance of physicians who care for 
 residents in regional treatment centers; and 

    (3) recommend to the commissioner changes in procedures for 
 operating regional treatment centers that are needed to improve 
 the provision of medical care in those facilities. 

    HIST: 1989 c 282 art 4 s 62