GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A new specialized unit will begin treating children this spring who have both psychiatric and medical needs.
Corewell Health has announced it will open a pediatric medical psychiatric unit this spring inside Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. Corewell says the specialized unit will be the first of its kind in Michigan.
It will have 12 beds and provide patient-centric care in a healing environment. The unit is supported by $5 million dollars from the State of Michigan and an additional $4 million in community donations.
Dr. Brittany Barber Garcia talked with reporters via a video link about the increased need for behavioral-health services in recent years, not only in West Michigan but nationwide.
"One of the things that has meant for us in our Acute Care hospital at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital is that kids who have behavioral-health needs - but who also may have additional medical needs - may have difficulty accessing care because of the complexity of what's going on with them," Garcia said.
She noted that there has been a gap in West Michigan in meeting those combined needs, in terms of treating the whole child.
"So, we're bringing together teams of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurse-care managers, alongside pediatricians and nursing staff. We're also bringing together our teams of child-life specialists and our school teachers, and our chaplains," Garcia said.
“There is a critical need for behavioral health services nationwide, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer this exceptional service to the pediatric patients in Michigan,” said Subodh Jain, M.D., vice president and department chief, behavioral health, Corewell Health. “In addition to enhancing collaboration with our community partners, this new unit will provide a better experience for both patients and team members.”
“The medical psychiatric unit will be pivotal in how we care for kids and we’re grateful for the support in this endeavor,” said Corewell Health/HDCH president Robert Fitzgerald, M.D.
"We also recognize that they're children," Garcia said. "And when they're in the hospital, they're not able to engage in other parts of their regular, every-day life. And so, we're going to be providing treatment for both those psychiatric and medical needs, but we also want to make sure we're offering services that attend to those social needs, those emotional needs. Making sure that they're staying connected to any academic needs they have. And we're helping to support that work to provide that spiritual care, as needed."
Corewell Health says it is actively hiring staff for the medical psychiatric unit. Openings can be found here.
###
Dr. Brittany Barber Garcia Photo: Corewell Health
Rendering from Corewell Healthl.