Elected officials and medical professionals came together to celebrate the grand opening of an esteemed rehabilitation and substance use treatment center in Middle River on Monday afternoon.
The opening of Hygea Healthcare’s Middle River facility marks the company’s third and most recent inpatient detox center in the Baltimore area. It is a culmination of the advocacy and efforts of former Baltimore County Councilwoman Cathy Bevins who worked closely with county leaders during her last term on the council to bring the much-needed facility to the area.
She also worked closely with Robby Stempler, the CEO and founder of Hygea Healthcare, over the past few years. Considering eastern Baltimore County’s alarming drug overdose rates, this was a pivotal move according to Bevins.
“Baltimore County — this big, large county we have with over 900,000 citizens,” Bevins said, “has really fallen behind in helping people with substance abuse… until [July 29], we do not have any detox centers in Baltimore County.”
Hygea will be open for patients 24 hours a day and will be a valuable asset, especially considering its proximity to Franklin Square Medical Center, Bevins highlighted.
“We are the second-highest county in the state — only to Baltimore City — for drug addiction, and eastern Baltimore County has one of the highest rates of overdoses,” Bevins said.
“In knowing that, how could it not be here?”
In her three terms on the County Council, Bevins represented District 6, which included the communities of Middle River, Rosedale, Parkville, Overlea, White Marsh and surrounding areas. She advocated for the construction of more schools, recreational additions, affordable housing and retail establishments in the area.
Bevins and Stempler met in June 2019, which is when they began collaborating on this effort. Though the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with the nearest comprehensive map zoning process, Bevins still took advantage of the opportunity to request a zoning designation change for the Middle River property where Hygea Healthcare built its new establishment.
“It is a beautiful facility, a really beautiful facility,” Bevins said. “I am really happy about it being there, and I think the community should be too.”
Hygea’s Middle River location is a cutting-edge, state-of-the-art substance abuse treatment center located at 1210 Middle River Road. The grand opening ceremony attracted Gov. Wes Moore and other state leaders, including Special Secretary Emily Keller of the Maryland Office of Overdose Response and Baltimore County Deputy Administrative Officer Elisabeth Sachs.
Moore said he and fellow state state leaders are committed to ensuring Marylanders are well taken care of. His administration created an Office of Overdose Response and directed $13.5 million to pilot programs to improve access to behavioral health services.
“During our first 19 months, my administration has made health care access a priority,” Moore said.
Drug overdoses are a statewide crisis, Moore pointed out; not just in Baltimore County.
“You cannot have a healthy state without a healthy population,” he said.
“At a time when our state faces disparities in substance dependence; at a time when opioids account for nearly 90 percent of overdose deaths in Maryland—our healthcare partners aren’t just pointing out the challenge, but are choosing to be part of the solution. All of us are touched by this crisis. It will take all of us to stop it. And together, we can — and we must.”
The 30,000 square foot facility has 50 beds — six of which will always be reserved exclusively for medicare recipients — and will offer a variety of services, ranging from inpatient detox, community residential, intensive outpatient and aftercare, among others.
According to Stempler, Hygea patients will be wearing FitBit devices so staff can retrieve their biometric data, including sleep patterns and heart rate for treatment purposes and assessments.
Generally, the detox process ranges anywhere from seven to 10 days, Stempler told The Avenue. Conversely, traditional rehab centers may accommodate patients for weeks or months at a time. Stempler estimated that a staff of 75 will work at the facility.
“This project started with a vision — a vision to disrupt the current treatment approach and to create a building which expresses and defines who Hygea Healthcare is and what we offer,” said Stempler, a Baltimore County native.
“[Hygea is] a facility, which decades from now, will stand as a beacon of what treatment should look like and how quality treatment can be delivered using whole person care and evidenced based practices.
“Technology will serve as a key driver to improve the way treatment is delivered. Treatment success is about outcomes and how recovery can be established and maintained by the community we serve. We are excited to open this center and begin helping people transform their lives and start their path of recovery.”
The detox center will be open for patients in mid-August.
“Drug abuse is a serious issue in all neighborhoods, including Middle River,” said District 5 County Councilman David Marks, whose jurisdiction now includes Middle River.
“It affects people from all walks of life. I encourage the owners to reach out to all stakeholders in the community about the services they offer.”
Hygea’s groundbreaking was in October 2022 and construction began a few months afterward. Mullan Contracting Company and Curry Architects oversaw the design and construction of the building.
The Hygea Middle River facility provides Level 3.7 and 3.7WM ASAM-certified treatment programs, designed to meet the unique needs of each client, according to a company statement.
In addition to traditional cognitive-behavioral counseling, Hygea Middle River offers yoga, meditation, recreational therapy, and healthy eating programs in its approach to recovery.
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