Parents demand accountability after years of violations at teen behavioral health hospital in Raleigh

The Department of Health and Human Services said complaints are confidential and reviewed for appropriate follow-up.

Patients, parents, employees and lawmakers want accountability for violations at Holly Hill Hospital

WRAL Investigates has heard from more than 70 people about Holly Hill Hospital in Raleigh since March.

While people have different stories to share, a commonality is they want accountability.

“I don’t feel like my child is safe there,” Sarah Jones said in June about her 16-year-old daughter escaping from the hospital.

“I don’t think that they are operating in a safe way,” said Michelle Futrall, whose daughter got attacked by another teenager within days of her admission to the facility.

“They essentially sent home a ticking time bomb,” Audria Johnson said of the care her son received at the facility.

WRAL Investigates heard from patients, parents, current employees, former employees and high-ranking executives.

“You are painted one picture, and when you get in [it] and it is definitely different,” an anonymous employee told WRAL Investigates.

WRAL Investigates has reached out to Holly Hill Hospital multiple times, sometimes receiving statements rejecting almost every claim — and sometimes receiving no response at all.

Holly Hill Hospital provided a written statement to WRAL Investigates on Tuesday.

“Holly Hill Hospital has a performance improvement program that involves a multidisciplinary team approach to patient safety,” the statement reads in part. “We work with stakeholders to ensure that we are continuously enhancing our practices to address patient safety needs.

“Whenever a safety concern arises, Holly Hill’s leadership team establishes action plans to address the concerns. We have comprehensive strategies for auditing and reporting ongoing compliance to stakeholders. We take all allegations seriously and take steps to fully investigate and address matters.

“Holly Hill Hospital follows all State mandated standards for medication administration. Quality controls are in place to ensure compliance.”

On Wednesday, WRAL Investigates followed up with more questions after years of violations at the facility. WRAL Investigates asked:

• Can you provide more information about how the most recent corrective action plans are more thorough to keep the same violations from happening again?
• What is the facility doing to ensure every patient has a timely master treatment plan, that’s it’s updated when necessary and that discharge procedures are following according to guidelines?

WRAL Investigates still has not received a response.

WRAL Investigates also brought our concerns to 15 state lawmakers — asking them to review our reporting — and to help us find solutions for parents. We are still waiting to hear back from them.

As the weeks and months go by, those with first-hand experience of Holly Hill  want answers.

“I just think they need to be held accountable,” Johnson said. “They are putting families in jeopardy.”