Mental Health Unit Renovation
Newly Renovated Mental Health Unit Opens at the Baltimore VA Medical Center The VA Maryland Health Care System announced the completion of renovations of the inpatient mental health unit at the Baltimore VA Medical Center.
The new state-of-the-art unit features expanded clinic space, safe and welcoming design features, and an emphasis on recovery-focused treatment.
“This is a big win because it enhances and expands our inpatient mental health services and reconfirms our commitment to providing safe, quality and compassionate care,” said Jonathan R. Eckman, P.E., director of the VA Maryland Health Care System.
“We want our Veterans to feel welcome, secure and cared for in a safe, attractive and healing space,” said Dr. Aaron Jacoby, director of the Mental Health Clinical Center at the VA Maryland Health Care System. “Our Veterans tend to have more complex mental health concerns coupled with physical health and chronic pain secondary to training events or being in combat.”
In fact, people living with chronic pain are at heightened risk of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety and substance use disorders, in addition to sleep disturbances, increased stress and suicidal ideation.
The carefully planned renovations expanded the unit, increasing both bed capacity for acute psychiatric care from 18 to 23 and almost doubling the square footage from approximately 8,175 sq. ft. to 15,050 sq. ft. This expansion allows the health care system to serve more Veterans in mental health crisis and offer flexibility with a variety of group and individual treatment care areas. “Having more private, lockable rooms is important for women Veterans, especially if they have experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST),” Dr. Jacoby said.
Equipped with the latest safety and specialty design features, the unit also boasts new rooms for group therapy, music and occupational therapy, and whole heath, as well as designated quiet rooms and a space for family visits. There is also a separate service entrance for housekeeping and food service staff members to enter the unit.
The unit staffing currently consists of 16 nurses, five nursing assistants, two psychiatrists, two social workers, an occupational therapist, peer specialist, part-time music therapist, and one psychologist. The health care system anticipates hiring more employees to fully staff for 23 bed capacity.
“It’s more than a bed expansion,” said Dr. Jacoby. “It is a recovery-oriented space that reflects our recovery-focused treatment. With the new design, the beds we have allow us to be more flexible. We have two medicine beds, allowing us to keep patients with acute medical needs and ongoing psychiatric issues on the unit rather than sending them to another area. The medicine beds allow us to deliver IV fluids to Veterans and monitor and treat various medical needs.”
The unit’s two bariatric beds allow the team to treat larger and taller Veterans with a focus on stabilizing patients with the goal of recovery.
“As we consistently work to meet the needs of Veterans, this expanded and welcoming environment for patients experiencing a mental health crisis is a place where they can feel safe,” said Dr. Jacoby. “The new unit also helps with patient flow. When a patient is stabilized, we can then recommend that they be transferred to our residential treatment program, outpatient care or to home.”