“Statesman Investigates: Quality of State Care”

Andrea Ball
Austin American-Statesman  
April 28, 2013 

Spurred by a sexual-abuse case involving a doctor and adolescent patients at a state-run psychiatric hospital, American-Statesman social services reporter Andrea Ball has produced a series of investigative reports spanning two years. Her reporting has resulted in numerous policy changes by state agencies.

In 2013, Ball continued her watchdog reporting on state care. She uncovered a lack of outside investigation when patients die in state-run facilities and found that internal investigations regularly clear doctors of improper care. Her reporting prompted a federal investigation into the case and led the state facility to shut down its medical unit, force the hospital superintendent to quit and fire a nurse involved in a patient’s death.

Ball’s digging into the state foster care system following the death of a 2-year-old found missed warning signs and gaps in the system used to select foster caregivers. After the Statesman’s report, the child placement agency admitted mistakes and used the Statesman’s findings to change the way it chooses foster families.

Submitted by John Bridges.

LINK to story online

Watch an interview with Andrea Ball about her prize-winning coverage.