Hospital adds beds for behavioral health patients

SMITHFIELD — UNC Health Johnston has wrapped up a 6,430-square-foot addition to its behavioral health department.

The $4.8 million project, funded by the state, includes office, common and meeting space and six additional inpatient beds, bringing the total to 26.

Since the pandemic, the hospital has seen the demand for mental health services increase with more cases of anxiety, depression and drug use. Before then, and even now with extra space, the department is full most days.

Dr. Hasan Baloch, medical director of behavioral health services, said the extra beds will enable the team to treat more patients. Also, the hospital expects the new beds to free up space in the emergency department, where psychiatric patients sometimes wait long periods for admission.

“When our behavioral health department is full, we have to refer patients to hospitals in other counties — some as far as two or three hours away,” Baloch said. “Having more beds will improve access to local inpatient psychiatric care.”

Local care is better because the team is knowledgeable about available resources and can transition patients to the best solutions for outpatient care, Baloch added.

Overall, the expansion improves the department’s efficiency, comfort and safety. Two of the new patient rooms are larger to accommodate wheelchairs. And two glass-paneled conference rooms feel open yet private enough for patient interviews or phone calls to families involved in patient care.

“The new patient rooms have improved bathrooms, beds and the best of new psychiatry-compliant equipment,” Baloch said. “The entire space has excellent natural light and a feeling of openness.”

Other features include two seclusion rooms, a second nurses’ station and sets of double doors that can separate the new and original sides of the department if needed.

Construction also included changes to the original 12,624-square-foot building. There is now a dedicated break room for staff, a larger patient and family visiting room, and updated bathrooms in patient rooms.

In addition to new space at the hospital, UNC Health Johnston has launched Community Access for Teen and Child Behavioral Health clinics on board the mobile outreach unit. CATCH-Johnston clinics provide private settings and technology needed for virtual behavioral care to local children, teens and their families.

Whether on board the mobile outreach unit, or at the latest expansion, the hospital is working on new and innovative ways to increase access to local mental and behavioral health services.

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