Oregon State Hospital Superintendent Sean Murphy is out as head of the state-run mental health hospital less than a month after his first day in the role, the Oregon Capital Chronicle reported Aug. 12.
Oregon Health Authority Interim Director Fariborz Pakseresht ended Mr. Murphy’s trial period with the agency “after careful consideration.” Mr. Murphy’s first day was July 13 after former Oregon Health Authority Director Sejal Hathi, MD, appointed him in June. Ms. Hathi faced criticism over the hospital’s staffing and reliance on restraint and seclusion, with her resignation taking effect Aug. 1.
The Oregon Health Authority will resume recruitment efforts for a permanent superintendent. Jim Diegel will resume serving as interim superintendent, a role he also held last year, according to the report.
The agency did not share details on whether Mr. Murphy resigned or was fired.
Mr. Murphy said in a statement shared with Becker’s:
“Oregon State Hospital serves one of the largest and most complex forensic psychiatric populations in the country. It has also historically experienced significant levels of violence and the use of seclusion and restraint. An organization facing challenges of that magnitude has to be structured and supported to meet them.
“A hospital like OSH operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Every part of the organization has to be capable of supporting that mission, not only the people providing direct patient care, but HR, IT, facilities and maintenance, safety, training, procurement, administrative services, and every other function that keeps a hospital operating. All of those pistons have to be firing.
“Some parts of the broader system are still operating in ways that developed during or after COVID, including centralized support functions that may work remotely or primarily during traditional business hours. That model may work well for some organizations, but a hospital with this level of clinical complexity and safety risk requires a different level of responsiveness. When critical support services cannot move at the pace of a 24/7 hospital, something eventually gives. Gaps develop, people compensate, and workarounds emerge simply to keep operations moving. Over time, those workarounds can create additional risk and make accountability less clear.
“Ultimately, the organization and I were not aligned on the pathway forward or on the level and pace of change I believed were necessary. I began working around some of those barriers in an effort to address problems more quickly, and the organization was not comfortable with that approach. That is where our approaches diverged. I don’t view that as an indictment of the people working at Oregon State Hospital or throughout OHA. There are many talented and deeply committed people who understand the challenges and want the hospital to succeed. But individual commitment cannot substitute for a system that provides the authority, resources, accountability, and responsiveness necessary to operate a complex 24/7 hospital.
“I also believe the Governor has selected the right leader for the Oregon Health Authority. He has significant work ahead of him to strengthen the broader systems needed to support an operation as complex as Oregon State Hospital. That will require investment, organizational alignment, clear accountability, and a willingness to examine whether existing structures are capable of meeting the hospital’s needs.
“The State of Oregon deserves the best-run state hospital it can have. Patients deserve it. Employees deserve it. Families and communities deserve it. I genuinely wish OHA and Oregon State Hospital well as they work through these challenges. There are difficult problems to solve, but they are solvable. Success will require aligned leadership and an organization willing and able to rise to the level of the challenge.”
At the Becker's Fall Behavioral Health Summit, taking place November 4–5 in Chicago, behavioral health leaders and executives will explore strategies for expanding access to care, integrating services, addressing workforce challenges and leveraging innovation to improve outcomes across the behavioral health continuum. Apply for complimentary registration now.
