New Davidson psychiatric hospital relieves bed shortage
By Karen Garloch, The Charlotte Observer | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
That shortage will be eased somewhat this week when the system opens a 66-bed,
"There's so much pent-up need that we could, if it was practically possible, be full on the first day," said Dr.
With more staff still to be hired, Gettelman said the hospital will initially accept only 26 patients on two of its three inpatient units. Full staffing and occupancy is expected in a couple of months.
CMC-Randolph was owned by Mecklenburg County until 2012, when
And the Davidson hospital opens at a time when "the state is running away from" the responsibility of caring for the mentally ill, said
About half of state-operated psychiatric beds have closed in recent years.
Because reimbursement for mental health care doesn't cover the cost, Tarwater has repeatedly said the Davidson hospital will lose money, about
Initially, the new hospital was proposed for Huntersville, but some residents complained and town officials rejected the rezoning in
Saddled with stigma
"I know that I dealt with stigma for a long time and it kept me from getting treatment," said Paul, 51, a member of the new hospital's
"Having the community behind the hospital means... a person in crisis will feel more connected, and this community support, with time, will help to remove the fear and shame for a person needing to seek treatment."
Lodge-like setting
Initially, the Davidson hospital was envisioned as a treatment center for people with mood disorders, such as clinical depression and bipolar disorder, instead of more serious psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia.
Gettelman, who spent 22 years as a psychologist and administrator at CMC-Randolph, said the
Still, he said Davidson will accept patients with psychotic illnesses when necessary. And, like CMC-Randolph, it will take patients with or without insurance.
"If somebody's in an emergency department needing an inpatient bed, and if there's any way this is an appropriate setting, we're taking them," Gettelman said.
Patients coming to the Davidson hospital, which doesn't have an emergency room, will be transferred from other hospitals or doctors' offices. Staffers will be waiting to escort patients to one of the three units, named Fraser Fir,
"It's all designed to maintain privacy and security," Gettelman said.
Calming environment
Outside, the 67,280-square-foot hospital resembles a mountain lodge, with wood and stone construction, and surrounded by woods on a rural 22-acre lot off
Lots of windows allow plenty of natural light into rooms that are painted in calming hues of blue and green. Each patient will have a private room with a private bath. There's a gym for exercise and movies, a private dining room, a day room with a television and game tables, and an enclosed outdoor courtyard.
"If you're in a (regular) hospital, you're usually in your room," Gettelman said. "But in this type of environment, the goal is social interaction and being out."
For other times, there's also a "comfort room" with a rocking chair where patients can go "if they're feeling particularly agitated, to remove themselves from being around a lot of people," Gettelman said.
Support for families
The Davidson hospital will employ about 160 people, including six psychiatrists and 18 psychotherapists, along with nurses, psychiatric technicians and "peer support specialists" who have received past treatment for mental illness or substance abuse.
All of the psychiatrists are hospitalists who will work only at the Davidson hospital, seven days in a row, with seven days off. They will work closely with therapists, who will also work seven days on and seven off. Nurses and techs will work 12-hour shifts. That staffing model is designed to create teams that foster "clinical consistency, efficiency, communication and collaboration," Gettelman said.
In response to feedback from patients and families, Gettelman said the Davidson hospital will also assign a therapist to be available for about 20 minutes before every visitation period to speak to families and friends about what to expect.
"What we've heard is how disorienting it is for families if they've never experienced it," he said. "If you want to, joining others and sharing your experience and supporting one another is really helpful."
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