Officials from the U.S. Department of Justice will do a systems review of the Vermont State Hospital this summer. Vermont Human Services Secretary Charles Smith said today that the investigation was triggered by publicity over the hospital’s loss of federal certification last year. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will look at staffing, nursing and other issues at the Waterbury hospital.
Federal officials are also investigating 180 facilities in 33 other states. Smith says the state hospital is not being singled out, and that he welcomes the review.