In King County, demand for mental and behavioral health care continues to outpace available resources. For individuals experiencing serious mental health conditions, timely access to care can be difficult. Providence Swedish Ballard’s inpatient psychiatric unit helps fill that gap by providing around-the-clock care for some of the community’s most vulnerable patients.
The 22-bed unit is embedded within a full-service hospital, allowing care teams to address mental and physical health needs in one place. In 2025, the unit served more than 700 patients and provided more than 8,500 days of care. This level of demand reflects both the growing need for services and the unit’s importance within the regional care system.
The program serves adults in crisis, many with complex needs such as substance use disorders, chronic medical conditions, and mental health concerns during pregnancy. Being in a hospital helps the care team treat all of these needs in one place, improving continuity of care and reducing delays in treatment.
“Freestanding psychiatric facilities often can’t take patients with medical conditions,” said Sabrina Diffendaffer, RN, unit manager. “Being able to provide both medical and psychiatric care in one place is huge.”
A team of doctors, nurses, social workers and occupational therapists work to support each patient through the development of an individualized care plan. This generally includes medication management, discharge planning and skill building, and leisure groups. These treatment modalities are holistic in nature and allow individuals to feel connected and supported in their recovery journey.
Many patients rely on Medicaid or struggle to access care on their own outside the hospital. The specialized unit provides care no matter a person’s ability to pay, making sure people get help during critical moments.
From the moment patients arrive to when they leave, the focus is on safety, support and planning for what comes next. Each patient receives a full assessment and help connecting with resources in the community.
“Inpatient behavioral health is about stabilizing the crisis and helping people safely transition to the next level of care,” Diffendaffer said. “We’re helping them build skills they can take with them when they leave.”
Access to mental and behavioral health has been identified as a pressing need in King County in Providence Swedish Central Puget Sound’s latest Community Health Needs Assessment. The inpatient psychiatric unit, along with related community benefit programs, is part of our Community Health Improvement Plan to expand access to care for those who need it most.
