Probate Pre-Screening (click to view brochure-Adobe PDF required)

Probate Pre-Screening is an assessment performed to determine if an individual in the community as a result of mental illness, poses an immediate danger to themselves or others, is unable to care for their basic physical needs, or would benefit from treatment in a hospital due to behavior that creates an imminent risk to the rights of others, and therefore meets statutory criteria for involuntary psychiatric hospitalization.  Licensed staff of Netcare counselors and social workers are all specially trained and certified as Health Officers for Franklin County and as such, have the authority to initiate the process for an involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. Requests for probate pre-screens are often made by treatment providers and/or relatives of an individual who is unwilling or unable to seek treatment and who appears at risk of harm to self or others.

Probate pre-screening evaluations are done in the community. The Probate prescreen department is staffed during Probate Court hours (Monday-Friday 8-5, excluding Holidays or other times when the Court is closed).  All requests for probate prescreening services on individuals in Franklin County are received through the Emergency Response Services (ERS) phone triage number (614-276-2273), which is staffed 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Probate Pre-Screening Process:

1. The pre-screener will investigate the referral to determine probable cause and identify whether safe and clinically appropriate alternatives to probate are possible. The pre-screener will not make a decision as to whether the person is probated or not probated at this time.

2. The pre-screener will contact third parties who have information regarding the mental status of the person in question. This includes review of Netcare Access medical records.

3. After information is gathered, the pre-screener will make reasonable efforts to do a face-to-face assessment of the individual in question. If the person is in the community, the pre-screener may have the client transported to the nearest Netcare crisis site via family, friends, or cab, if they are agreeing to come in voluntarily. In these circumstances, the pre-screener will contact the nearest crisis site to inform them regarding the transfer and anticipated time of arrival. Alternatively, the pre-screener may elect to do the face-to-face assessment in the community.

4. In situations involving a family member requesting probate of another family member, the court may permit filing of probate papers without a face-to-face assessment by an authorized pre-screener, dependent upon the pre-screeners’ clinical judgment of the need.

5. Based upon the available information (including a face-to-face evaluation), the pre-screener will determine if the person meets the legal criteria for involuntary under statute 5122.01 of the Ohio Revised Code.  If at least one of the statutory criteria (described below) is determined to be met, the pre-screener will:

               a. Complete an Application for Emergency Admission (“pink slip”) if the

                   person evaluated is in the community, or advise the court to accept an affidavit.

               b. The pre-screener will contact law enforcement to request that they transport

                    the client to the nearest Netcare crisis site. The pre-screener will also contact

                    the crisis site to inform them regarding the transfer and anticipated time of arrival.

               c. Advise the court to accept an affidavit if the person evaluated is in the hospital.

**If the person does not meet criteria for involuntary commitment, a recommendation and referral to the least restrictive resource will be made. 

Statutory Criteria for Involuntary Hospitalization:

A Netcare Health Officer and/or a Netcare physician are the only privileged persons approved to initiate an involuntary hospitalization.   A person must be mentally ill and meet at least one of the following criteria:

1. Represents a substantial risk of physical harm to himself as manifested by evidence of threats of, or attempts at, suicide or serious self-inflicted bodily harm.

2. Represents a substantial risk of physical harm to others as manifested by evidence of recent homicidal or other violent behavior, evidence of recent threats that place another in reasonable fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm, or other evidence of present dangerousness.

3. Represents a substantial and immediate risk of serious physical impairment or injury to himself as manifested by evidence that he is unable to provide for and is not providing for his basic physical needs because of his mental illness and that appropriate provision for such needs cannot be made immediately available in the community.

4. Would benefit from treatment in a hospital for his mental illness and is in need of such treatment as manifested by evidence of behavior that creates a grave and imminent risk to the substantial rights of others or him/herself.

If during the course of evaluation or treatment it becomes necessary to physically or mechanically restrain a client or to otherwise prevent them from leaving the crisis site, an Application for Emergency Admission is completed by the Health Officer.  A Netcare physician is contacted immediately and the client is held for evaluation by the Netcare psychiatrist prior to a final disposition. 

Only a Netcare staff psychiatrist or on-call psychiatrist may release a client from an Application for Emergency Admission, or pink slip.  Any client placed on a pink slip status, is required to be seen by a physician within 24 hours.

What is a Health Officer?

Under the authority of the Franklin County Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board and in accordance with Chapter 5122 of the Ohio Revised Code, Netcare Corporation trains and privileges clinical staff, who have proven competency, as Health Officers for Franklin County.  Health Officer status is renewed on an annual basis.  The privilege and authority is limited to Franklin County and is only effective while working as an employee of Netcare.  Health Officers work under the supervision of a licensed independent social worker, licensed professional clinical counselor, psychologist or physician of Netcare.  Probate Pre-Screeners are instructed to consult with the medical director, staff psychiatrist or the Director of Clinical and Crisis Services as necessary.  Health Officers consult with a Netcare psychiatrist prior to making final dispositions.  Health Officers who work at a Netcare Crisis Site will exercise their Health Officer privileges when there is no Netcare physician on site.