Northwest Hospital Cuts the Ribbon on Expanded Behavioral Health Unit
What: Northwest Hospital will celebrate the opening of its newly renovated and expanded Behavioral Health Unit with a ribbon cutting, open house and tours. The expansion adds 12 new inpatient beds to the program, increasing total capacity from 37 to 49 inpatient beds for adults 18 and over. With the addition of 12 new beds, the Northwest behavioral health program grows from two to three units for inpatient behavioral healthcare. In addition to the Hospital's inpatient program, the Northwest Hospital emergency department has two specially equipped behavioral health pods (12 patient rooms) to care and treat patients. Over 7% of the emergency department patients present for behavioral health treatment.
The secure unit is located on the fourth floor of the hospital. The need for behavioral health treatment in our community is growing. During the last fiscal year, 1,182 patients were admitted to Northwest for behavioral health care and those patients spent a total of 8,773 days in the hospital. On average, each patient has a hospital stay that averages just over seven days. Craig Carmichael, President of Northwest Hospital says, "We recognize the growing need for behavioral health services in our Northwest community. The new 6,500 square foot expansion will allow us to better meet the mental health needs of our patients and community in a state-of-the-art unit."
The design and layout of the new space was created with special attention for the safety, care, and wellbeing of patients with a mental health crisis. Some of the features include shatterproof glass, barricade-proof patient rooms, a day room and group room equipped with noise and sound-controlled spaces. The unit is energy efficient and includes a staff monitored refreshment center, a washer and dryer for patients to do their laundry, and safe, comfortable furniture for patients with a behavioral health crisis. The bathrooms and patient rooms are designed to prevent self-harm and the nurses' station allows 180-degree visuals of the unit with real-time tracking technology to observe where nurses are located on the unit at all times. The new unit is scheduled to open to patients on Monday, October 24, 2022.
When: Monday, October 3, 2022 (11:30 a.m.)
Where: Northwest Hospital- New Behavioral Health Unit- on the 4th floor of the hospital.
Why:
The need for behavioral health services continues to grow in the community. Seven percent of visits to the Northwest Emergency Department (E.D.) are for behavioral health services. That number is expected to grow. The projected number of inpatient admissions for behavioral health at Northwest Hospital is expected to exceed 2,000 patients annually.
The expansion of inpatient behavioral health beds is connected to LifeBridge Health's (LBH) acquisition of Grace Medical Center (formerly Bon Secours Hospital). We agreed to maintain and incorporate their inpatient behavioral health beds into LBH facilities with 24 inpatient beds added to the program at Sinai Hospital and now 12 new beds at Northwest Hospital. The expansions are examples of how LifeBridge Health is stepping up to meet the needs of this growing patient population and how we CARE BRAVELY for our community.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Open House and Tours of the New Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit
Monday, October 3, 2022
11:30 a.m. program
**Photos of the new unit will be available after the event
Parking access for media will be in the patient parking lots across the street from the main entrance to the hospital on Carlson Lane. A member of the public relations team will escort media to the new unit.
Event Program:
WELCOME/INTRODUCTION
Craig Carmichael, President, Northwest Hospital and
Senior Vice President, LifeBridge Health
SPEAKERS
Adrienne Jones, Speaker, Maryland General Assembly
Johnny Olszewski, Baltimore County Executive
Dr. Drew Pate, Chief of Psychiatry, LifeBridge Health
RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY