Acadia President Brent Turner, Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital CEO Oana Radu, Erlanger Health System President & CEO Kevin Spiegel, City of Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke
Chattanooga artwork
Erlanger Health System President & CEO Kevin Spiegel (speaking), Acadia President Brent Turner
Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger (speaking), Acadia President Brent Turner, Erlanger Health System President & CEO Kevin Spiegel, City of Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke
Elected officials and the Chattanooga business community were invited on Tuesday for a sneak peek of the new Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital.
This much needed facility will serve many of those suffering from behavioral conditions, from the elderly who are dealing with depression to patients with PTSD and those struggling with substance abuse. It will consist of inpatient services, partial hospital programs and intensive outpatient programs. Most patients with mental illness will admit on a referral basis.
The new facility features state-of-the-art fixtures and architecture to prevent self-harm. It is adorned with artwork from the surrounding region throughout the units. Each piece chosen by the Erlanger Arts Committee. Patients will also enjoy beautiful, comfortable surroundings with both private and community areas such as a cafeteria, activity rooms, a gymnasium and outdoor areas as medical specialists assist them along their journey to recovery.
“Erlanger executives recognized a deficit in access to care, partnered with Acadia who are experts in the field, and fought to bring these services to Chattanooga,” said Dr.
Jennie Mahaffey, chief medical officer, Erlanger BH Hospital and medical director, Erlanger Behavioral Health. “Acadia has demonstrated true expertise and professionalism as they have organized and launched this project. I feel very fortunate to be working with so many great people who are passionate about what we do. This team is committed to serving the needs of our patients. This is truly a celebration of a new era in behavioral healthcare for Chattanooga. I look forward to working with our community behavioral health partners to supplement the good work they already do in a system that is truly overwhelmed.”
The two-story, 69,000-square foot building, is on the corner of North Holtzclaw and Citico Avenues. At full service, the hospital will include 24 beds for geriatric patients, 24 for adults, 18 for children and adolescents, and 22 for substance abuse patients. The hospital opening will begin as a soft launch of medical services serving the adult population first. Other services for geriatric and pediatric populations will roll out later this year.