Oregon Public Broadcasting

Some members of the Oregon State Hospital Advisory Board are questioning how effective they can be.

They told an Oregon Senate panel Monday that they want more power to access confidential information relating to patients at the troubled mental institution. Chris Lehman reports.

The Oregon State Hospital has come under increased scrutiny from mental health advocates and the federal government.

State lawmakers created the hospital advisory board as one of several initiatives aimed at reform. The 16-member panel has met six times so far. But some on the board wonder what the point is.

Robin Henderson of St. Charles Health System in Bend says board members are being kept in the dark when it comes to some sensitive information.

Robin Henderson: "They say that we're advisory. But what kind of teeth do we have to advise? So at this point I prefer to call us a sounding board. People make presentations to us, and we can give our advice. But we only get to see a very small portion of the picture."

Henderson says some documents the board requests come so highly redacted to the point of being useless.

Hospital officials point out that some patient information is considered confidential by federal law. They argue since advisory board meetings are public those records can't be made available.