LYNCHBURG, VA. (WFXR) – Officials are one step closer to expanding access to mental health care in Lynchburg. Centra Health and Lifepoint Behavioral Health are teaming up to open a new 72-bed hospital focused on bringing care closer to home.
“This is a place where we on a daily basis will save lives,” said Taylor Davis, CEO of Centra Behavioral Health Hospital.
The over 60,000 square foot facility increases Centra’s behavioral health capacity by 25 percent. It replaces an older space bringing patients into a more modern and open facility.
“The flow of the place is very clean, very open, very wide and not as constrained as the old building at the Baptist. The lighting is clearly designed to basically be open so that people feel that they are in a space where they can communicate and get the best care possible,” said Richard Tugman, President and CEO of Centra Health.
Leaders say the project is driven directly by what the community needs most. Patients will have easier access to availability with direct contact to the hospital.
“Well access we all know is a huge issue in mental health. What I would kind of tweak is access that works…we’re doing best of Bree mental health care, because the community deserves that,” said Nicki Tessler, President of Lifepoint Behavioral Health.
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The design is also a huge part of meeting those needs. The assessment rooms, the semi-private patient rooms and outdoors spaces are all designed with recovery in mind.
“When we provide care for people, it is not just the medication that’s important. It is really about treating the whole person,” said Peter Betz, Medical Director for Centra Behavioral Health Hospital.
The space will serve adults, adolescents and geriatric patients. Once its open the EmPATH emergency services will remain at Lynchburg General Hospital.
The hospital is not open yet but an official opening date is expected later this summer.
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