The recently published article about Shadow Mountain Behavioral Health by the digital entertainment site BuzzFeed is just the latest unfortunate example of its ongoing abdication of subjective, fact-based journalism. Instead, the reporter assumes the role of an activist, presenting a highly sensationalized, inaccurate, and largely anonymously sourced portrayal without any appropriate context or understanding of the realities of the mental health treatment system. Shadow Mountain plays a critical role in providing mental health treatment in Oklahoma and the dedicated, compassionate staff work tirelessly to help patients who are facing incredibly difficult psychiatric conditions.
Shadow Mountain is a facility in good standing with the State of Oklahoma. In fact, for over 30 years, the facility has been recognized for providing high level, evidence-based care to patients facing some the most complex psychiatric issues. Often other hospitals are unwilling or unable to treat the patients we care for in our facility. Shadow Mountain has received third party recognition for the quality of its clinical programs and positive outcomes for its patients. It is fully accredited by The Joint Commission, an independent organization with a 60-year record of undertaking comprehensive evaluations of healthcare facilities on behalf of the federal government. The Joint Commission designated Shadow Mountain as a Top Performer in Key Quality Measures® during each year of the program’s existence between 2011 and 2014. Shadow Mountain is also a licensed provider in good standing with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and SoonerCare, the State’s Medicaid program.
Sadly, BuzzFeed follows its typical playbook of highlighting and misconstruing a very small number of unfortunate events or incidents to create a false narrative about the overall quality of care and staff at Shadow Mountain. The article ignores and disregards the countless patients whose lives have been positively impacted and improved by the care and treatment they received at Shadow Mountain.
We hope this website will provide an objective, accurate understanding of Shadow Mountain Behavioral Health, the quality of its programs, the complexities and challenges of mental health care, the patients we treat and the work of our dedicated, compassionate team members.