A sign outside of the San Diego County-run Edgemoor Hospital in Santee is shown on June 24, 2021. (File photo courtesy of Zoë Meyers/inewsource)
County and state leaders Thursday broke ground on a $28.1 million renovation to convert a wing of the Edgemoor Distinct Part Skilled Nursing Facility to an Acute Psychiatric Unit.
The construction on the 13,500-square-foot wing will add 12 new acute psychiatric beds and is scheduled to be completed in May 2027.
“Having access to safe, specialized care can make a critical difference for families and individuals when behavioral symptoms become overwhelming and immediate support is needed,” said Nadia Privara Brahms, director of County Behavioral Health Services. “That’s why we’re so excited to begin work on this new acute psychiatric unit in the East County.”
The Edgemoor unit is intended to offer short-term intensive psychiatric care for people experiencing a serious behavioral health crisis 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It will include a 5,780 square-foot courtyard.
Stays are typically short, lasting a few days to one to two weeks, a county statement read.
The renovation is largely funded by the State Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program, intended to support counties in constructing new mental health and substance use treatment facilities.
–City News Service