Providence and Universal Health Services (UHS)/Fairfax Behavioral Health celebrated the next step in their joint venture to build a 100-bed freestanding behavioral health hospital on the Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center campus with a groundbreaking ceremony, open to all members of the community.
Construction of the three-story building is now underway. In addition to patient rooms and treatment areas, the design includes a gym, courtyard, kitchen, natural lighting, dedicated parking and ambulance bay.
The new hospital is expected to be ready for patients in the fall of 2018.
The hospital will increase both inpatient and outpatient capacity to meet the health care needs of the region while helping to lower the overall cost of care. It will serve adult and pediatric patients needing short-term hospital care for mental health illnesses. It will be well connected with the providers and services available at Providence clinics and hospitals in Spokane and Stevens counties, creating a seamless care experience for patients.
“Access to behavioral health services is a significant need in our region,” says Elaine Couture, chief executive of Providence Health & Services in Eastern Washington and Montana. “As the only hospital in Eastern Washington providing emergency and short-term inpatient psychiatric care, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s Hospital is regularly at capacity and unable to accept additional patients from Spokane and the broader region. Providence and UHS/Fairfax Behavioral Health have the experience and resources to assist in taking this monumental next step in helping increase access to essential services,” she adds.
“Bringing together the existing expertise and resources of both UHS/Fairfax Behavioral Health and Providence allows us to meet the demand for these critically important behavioral health services,” says Ron Escarda, chief executive of Fairfax Behavioral Health. “Our two organizations share a commitment to care for everyone, especially the poor and vulnerable, and have a long history of service to this patient population.”
Providence has been caring for behavioral health patients in the region for more than 45 years. Fairfax, an affiliate of UHS, the nation’s largest facility-based provider of behavioral health services, has more than 86 years of experience meeting the behavioral health needs of the residents of the state of Washington.
The Washington State Department of Health approved the Certificate of Need for the two health care providers to move forward with construction on the 100-bed hospital in March 2016. Planning and design work began immediately.
The general contractor is Bouten Construction of Spokane. The architects are NAC and Boulder Architectural Design. Cost of construction is approximately $29 million.
About Providence Health Care
Providence Health Care is the Eastern Washington region of Providence Health & Services, a not-for-profit Catholic health care ministry committed to providing for the needs of the communities it serves—especially for those who are poor and vulnerable. In Eastern Washington, the Providence Health Care network of services includes Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital and Providence Holy Family Hospital–nationally recognized for quality care, as well as two critical access hospitals in Colville and Chewelah. Adding to a full continuum of services are Providence Medical Park in Spokane Valley (a comprehensive multi-specialty center), three urgent care centers, home health, assisted living, adult day health and skilled nursing care. Providence Medical Group of Eastern Washington includes more than 800 physicians and advanced practitioners. Its medical staff includes primary care providers, surgical sub-specialists and medical specialists. For more information, visit phc.org.
About Fairfax Behavioral Health
Fairfax Behavioral Health is the largest private provider of inpatient psychiatric services in the state of Washington. It operates facilities in Kirkland and Everett with 221 psychiatric and chemical dependency/detox beds, and has just opened a new 34 bed unit on the EvergreenHealth – Monroe campus that is focused on the provision of behavioral health services to older adults. Fairfax specializes in the treatment of adults and adolescents with psychiatric and/or alcohol addiction and substance use issues. Fairfax supports recovery through its commitment to the provision of a supportive environment and an ongoing plan for long-term sobriety and improved mental health. Fairfax is dedicated to educating the public to the value of identifying and treating behavioral illnesses, addictions and their impact on people’s lives. For more information, visit fairfaxhospital.com.
About Universal Health Services
Universal Health Services (UHS) is one of the largest and most respected hospital management companies in the nation. For nearly 40 years, UHS and its affiliates have focused on meeting patients’ health care needs across hundreds of local communities. Today, UHS subsidiaries own and/or operate more than 300 acute care hospitals and behavioral health facilities in 37 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and the U.K. For additional information visit uhsinc.com.
