Tony Davis is the assigned Patient/Human Rights Advocate for Piedmont Geriatric Hospital. The Human Rights Advocate monitors an advocacy system at Piedmont Geriatric Hospital to promote compliance with individual rights. The advocate is available to help patients make a complaint about a possible violation of their rights and will represent the patient upon request or consult with any other representative the individual chooses. The advocate assigned to Piedmont Geriatric Hospital is independent of the hospital director and reports directly to the Office of Human Rights of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The advocate can also initiate a complaint on a patient’s behalf. Any individual or anyone acting on behalf of a patient who thinks that the patient’s rights may have been violated can and should report the complaint to the Facility Director or the Human Rights Advocate. If the patient or legally authorized representative is not satisfied with the resolution of the complaint, a petition for a hearing may be submitted to Piedmont Geriatric Hospital Local Human Rights Committee.

  • Tony Davis
  • Phone: 804-524-4463
  • Address:
  • Human Rights Advocate
  • P. O. Box 427
  • Burkeville, VA 23922

Complaints may also be referred to the Disability Law Center of Virginia at 1-800-552-3962.

Human Rights Complaints

Piedmont Geriatric Hospital has a complaint process to respond to possible violations of individual rights regarding their services. Patients can make a complaint to any employee of the facility. Family members, volunteers, consultants, or employees can make a complaint on behalf of a patient. Once a complaint is received an event report will be completed and designated hospital staff will attempt to resolve the complaint within five (5) days. If the complaint is not resolved, then the director refers the complaint to the human rights advocate.

Local Human Rights Committee

The Piedmont Geriatric Hospital Local Human rights Committee consists of community volunteers that broadly represent various professionals and consumer groups with an interest in behavioral health and developmental services.

The Local Human Rights Committee reviews practices and conditions that are alleged to have violated, or may potentially violate, the legal or human rights of any patient. The Committee shall also seek to assure that policies, procedures and practices are consistent with the human rights regulations.

The Local Human Rights Committee encourages interested professionals and consumers to apply for membership. The Local Human Rights Committee meets quarterly at PGH and the meeting schedule may be obtained by contacting Tony Davis at 804-524-4463. Confidentiality of information regarding individuals receiving services must be observed at all times.

The PGH LHRC will convene the 3rd Wednesday of February, May, August and November.

LHRC Meetings will be held at 5:30 PM at Piedmont Geriatric Hospital Auditorium located at 5001 East Patrick Henry Highway Burkeville, VA unless otherwise indicated.

LHRC Meetings Minutes

LHRC Meeting Minutes for 02/28/19

Reporting Suspected Abuse or Neglect

Any person who has any knowledge or reason to believe that a patient may have been abused or neglected must immediately report this information directly to the Facility Director – 804-766-3229. Reason to believe abuse or neglect may have occurred can be based on direct observation, a report made by a patient or staff member, behavioral/physical indicators of abuse or neglect, or by any other means. An allegation of possible patient abuse is so serious that any information regarding it must be given directly to the director of Piedmont Geriatric Hospital so that immediate action can be taken to protect patients. The person reporting the allegation should describe the incident as fully as possible, giving the names of any persons involved, the time, date and location of the incident, and the names of any witnesses.

What is Abuse or Neglect?

“Abuse” means any act or failure to act by an employee or other person responsible for the care of an individual that was performed or was failed to be performed knowingly, recklessly, or intentionally, and that caused or might have caused physical or psychological harm, injury, or death to an individual receiving services. Examples of abuse include but are not limited to the following:

  • Rape, sexual assault, or other criminal sexual behavior;
  • Assault or battery;
  • Use of language that demeans, threatens, intimidates or humiliates the person;
  • Misuse or misappropriation of the person’s assets, goods or property;
  • Use of excessive force when placing a person in physical or mechanical restraint;
  • Use on a person of physical or mechanical restraints that is not in compliance with federal and state laws, regulations, and policies, professionally accepted standards of practice or the person’s individualized services plan; and
  • Use of more restrictive or intensive services or denial of services to punish the person or that is not consistent with his individualized services plan. See § 37.1-1 of the Code of Virginia.

“Neglect” means the failure by an individual, program or facility responsible for providing services to provide nourishment, treatment, care, goods, or services necessary to the health, safety or welfare of a person receiving care or treatment for mental illness, mental retardation or substance abuse. See § 37.1-1 of the Code of Virginia