DELAWARE HEATH AND SOCIAL SERVICES ANNOUNCES GREGORY A. VALENTINE (MSW, LSCSW) AS NEW DELAWARE PSYCHIATRIC CENTER HOSPITAL DIRECTOR

New Castle -

Delaware Health and Social Services and Delaware Psychiatric Center announce that Gregory A. Valentine (MSW, LSCSW) of Lenexa, KS, has been selected as the new Hospital Director for Delaware Psychiatric Center. Since 2005, Valentine served as CEO, Superintendent of the Osawatomie State Hospital and Rainbow Mental Health Facility, Osawatomie and Kansas City, KS, two state mental health hospitals, with oversight of about 563 FTE with a combined budget of about $45 million.

At Osawatomie State Hospital and Rainbow Mental Health Facility, Valentine was instrumental in passing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) survey in June, 2011, with 100 percent compliance to Conditions of Participation and zero deficiencies. Additionally, under Valentine's leadership, the hospitals:

• Reduced the use of seclusion from a rate of 0.72 (2007) hours per 1000 patient hours to 0.24 (2011), placing the hospitals below the national average for three consecutive years;
• Reduced the use of restraint at both hospitals from a rate of 0.2 (2007) hours per 1000 patient hours to 0.11 (2011), placing the hospitals below the national average for three consecutive years;
• Worked with community mental health centers and other providers to:
  • Reduce the 30-day re-admission rate from 0.14 to 0.11, resulting in an average of 75 fewer patients being re-admitted per year from 2007 to 2011;
  • Reduce the median length of stay from fifteen to ten days through working collaboratively with community providers to ensure solid discharge planning from the day of admission.

Valentine was selected from a field of more than 20 applicants. DHSS Secretary Rita M. Landgraf said, "We are delighted with the outcome of this search. Gregory has an excellent background. He is outgoing, articulate, forward looking and has excellent leadership skills."

DSAMH Division Director Kevin Huckshorn said, "Gregory has an excellent reputation and has received many accolades for his work. I am honored that he has accepted this position and welcome the knowledge, skills and energy he will bring to DPC and to Delaware."

Valentine said that although he is eager to begin his new position, he expects the first few months to be an educational process. "Understanding more about the unique culture, traditions, mission and values of the Hospital is important before I make assumptions on future strategies for the organization."

Prior to his employment with Osawatomie State Hospital and Rainbow Mental Health Facility, Valentine was Kansas City Regional Director and Manhattan Area Director, for the State of Kansas, and Manhattan Kansas.

Valentine will assume his new position on September 6, 2011.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.