Dempsey Benton was sworn in Wednesday as secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, taking charge of one of the largest departments in state government.
The department and its staff of more than 19,000 oversee the welfare of millions of North Carolinians through Medicaid programs, public health initiatives, disabilities services and mental health care, Lynn Bonner reports.
Benton was a long-time Raleigh manager who later served as chief deputy secretary of the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Benton succeeds Carmen Hooker Odom, who left to become president of the Milbank Memorial Fund.
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Re: Benton sworn in
mr. benton, you are on track to look into the fiasco of the new hospital being built in butner Central Regional Psychiatric Center. The new hosp is too small to serve the mentallly ill in this region. the census has gotten higher and is not going to slow down anytime soon. Sure, we can sweep these ill patients under the rug but, in due time, the ugly head will roar. There are some people who just do better in a facility such as dix. Remember it wil be law makers such as yourself that will be held responsible if we neglect one patient and that one patient does a horrific crime. It is much wiser to prevent accidents than to pay out for negligence. Our ER's are now overbooked w/ illegal aliens, uninsured middle income folks and poor. Now throw in the mentally disturbed into the mix and we have a recipe for disaster. (and we thought Bin-Ladin was some one to fear-ha) Please look at the real #'s of the people served by both facility before anyone makes decisions. There is nothing outside of here that can provide emergency care for the mentally ill. Crisis pts dont go into crisis Mon-Fri 8-5. They are the dangerous ones that would hurt themselves or others. You are a man of good intergrity and dont let this ruin your career. Rise above it and do the right thing. Penny wise and pound foolish. remember those words during talks. remember those that are ill and need a voice. Be that one brave voice for these patients.