In the fall of 2009, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center completed development of Brighton’s only geriatric inpatient psychiatry unit.
The development of the unit was based on the hospital’s strategic plans. The need to better serve the elderly in its community is critical based on population growth trends in St. Elizabeth’s service areas. As an example, in 2009, 45% of the population is age 64 and older; however, that number is expected to increase to 50% by 2014. To best treat this patient population, St. Elizabeth’s recognized that its existing facility was not optimal. This special population of patients was being treated in its general inpatient psychiatric unit. A combination of medical and psychiatric conditions can make the evaluation, care and treatment of older individuals challenging, and studies show that one in five older adults in the United States will experience a psychiatric disorder. Fortunately, most emotional illness in older adults is treatable and, in the proper environment, health care professionals can better evaluate and treat both the physical and psychological factors that affect elders.
The new unit offers comprehensive and dignified inpatient treatment in a newly renovated, safe and comfortable environment. The first of its kind in the community, the new 16-bed unit brings together psychiatrists, medical specialists; nursing staff with geriatric, psychiatric and medical expertise; occupational therapists; clinical social workers; physical therapists; and nutritionists. Together, they provide comprehensive assessment and treatment, including psychiatric evaluation; medical evaluation and management; medication adjustments; occupational therapy; nutritional consultation; individual and group therapy; patient and family education; and discharge and aftercare planning.
Admiral Construction Corporation has been partnering (in construction) with SEMC for 20 years and had recently been afforded the challenge of transforming an existing 10,000sf transitional care unit, that Admiral originally built in the late 90’s, into a state-of-the-art Geri-Psych unit with less than eight weeks to meet The Department of Public Health and The Department of Mental Health guidelines and approvals.
The design team included Steffian Bradley Architects and Thompson Consultants Inc.
Admiral Construction Corporation has been specializing in healthcare renovations for over 30 years, and its employees have been certified in healthcare construction by the American Society of Health Care Engineering, which is recognized and affiliated with the American Hospital Association.
