Page 30 - BusinessWest July 10, 2023

for access to behavioral healthcare in the region, which still faces a shortage of inpatient psychiatric services and increasing mental-health needs.
“We care deeply about people
who need psychiatric services and
are committed to the success of this new project,” he said, adding that
the partnership with Lifepoint is
smart considering that organization’s expertise in the development of new specialty hospitals and its commitment to quality care. “In developing this new hospital with our Lifepoint partners, we are continuing and enhancing our commitment to fulfilling the mental- health needs of people in our region.”
“Hospital care for behavioral-health patients requires a specialized environment of care to ensure safety, comfort, and privacy for patients and a setting for a full range of therapeutic services to support their recovery.”
divisions: skilled nursing, rehabilitation, acute care, and behavioral health,
said Roy Sasenaraine, CEO of Valley Springs.
“There’s a significant need in Western Mass. for this specialized hospital. The behavioral-health needs in the population are so great, and the differentiation between this service line and every other service line is so different, you need something like this; just like having a specialty hospital for children, you need a special team to come together to care for behavioral- health patients.”
The new facility, set to open in mid-August, will increase capacity for inpatient behavioral healthcare for
adults, children, and adolescents in the area by 50%. Built with the unique needs of behavioral-health patients
in mind, the $72 million hospital is designed so patients receive their care and treatment in an environment that supports their recovery, Sasenaraine said.
The 150-bed hospital at 45 Lower Westfield Road in Holyoke, including 30 beds dedicated to longer-term care through the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, has been planned with patient safety in mind, he added.
“A benefit of new construction is that patient safety and privacy has been factored into every aspect of the building, from patient rooms to the gymnasium. We have fine-tuned every detail and thought of everything in terms of safety: toilets, window blinds, even door jambs. The new building allows us to make use of modern technology to elevate patient safety
in a way retrofitting an existing unit could not.”
Access Points
A new service offered by Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital will be on-site evaluations following a provider referral, allowing some patients to be admitted without an Emergency Department visit at a different hospital.
Currently, around one-third of the behavioral-health patients evaluated
in Baystate Health’s four emergency departments are transferred to facilities outside of Western Mass. due to a shortage of psychiatric beds in the region. With the opening of Valley Springs, more patients will have the opportunity to receive treatment close to home, Sasenaraine explained.
The hospital’s location is intended
to provide accessibility, being close
to Routes 90 and 91, while also providing a facility focused solely on specialized care for mental health.
He explained that patients will
be admitted in three ways: people
in crisis can be taken directly to the hospital by ambulance, other care providers will refer patients in need of behavioral-health treatment, and people can also walk in off the street.
DR. BARRY SARVET
Baystate actually announced
a partnership on this project with Kindred Healthcare LLC during the summer of 2000, before Kindred was
purchased by Lifepoint Health about a year and a half ago. Lifepoint boasts more than 100 specialty hospitals across the U.S. focused on four
• Health & Well-being for Seniors • Dietary Tips
• Staying Fit for Life
• Taking Care of Loved Ones
• How to Have ‘The Talk’
• Know the Signs of Dementia
• Choosing a Home Care Provider • What is End-of-Life Care?
• Taking Care of the Caregiver
businesswest.com
• Making a Budget
• Estate Planning
• The Documents You Need
• Writing an Effective Will
• The Importance of Long-term Care Insurance
• Making Your Money Last Through Retirement
Reserve Your Space Today! Feature Sections and Articles:
• •
• Hearing Health
• Our Aging Bodies
• Senior Living Options
• When to Give Up the Car Keys
healthcarenews.com
P
P
l
l
l
a
a
n
n
n
n
i
i
n
n
g
f
g
f
o
o
r
Y
r
Y
o
o
u
u
r
F
r
F
u
u
n
n
e
e
r
r
a
a
l
30 JULY 10, 2023
MONTHLYFEATURE
BusinessWest