IHA Follow-Up: SOPH COVID-19 Protocols

March 17, 2020

Following the Dept. of Human Services (DHS) Communication Alert on State-Operated Psychiatric Hospital (SOPH) COVID-19 Protocols released on Saturday, March 14, IHA has provided background information and resources in a new member memo. As a reminder, DHS will temporarily suspend civil admissions to three of six SOPHs (Chicago Read, Elgin and McFarland. The three hospitals suspending admissions are doing so to make room for “triage units” for all new patients moving forward. All other SOPHs planning continued admissions (Madden, Alton, and Choate) have existing space to accommodate these planned triage units.

IHA is currently working with DHS to ensure funding is secured to support community hospitals that may be in a position to assist in the provision of care to uninsured patients, who would have otherwise been a civil admission at one of the three SOPHs currently diverting patients.