of Advocate South Suburban Hospital’s new Behavioral Health Center. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
On Dec. 12, mental health treatment services in the South Suburbs got a boost as Advocate South Suburban Hospital, 17800 Kedzie Ave. in Hazel Crest, opened the doors on its new behavioral health center.
The new inpatient psychiatric treatment facility is replacing the unit at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and, with 27 single-occupancy rooms, will expand capacity by about 25%, according to Dr. David Kemp, director of Behavioral Health for Advocate’s Illinois branch.
The increase in capacity will help address a critical need in the region, he said.
“Our teams often spend an inordinate amount of time trying to find beds to place patients who are waiting in the emergency room or general medical floors within the hospital,” Kemp said. “So I believe this will meaningfully improve access in the South Suburbs.”
After a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 9, hospital staff led tours of the new space.
Kemp noted that in addition to improved capacity, developing the new center gave the hospital an opportunity to create a state-of-the-art space designed to protect patient and staff safety and to create a healing environment.
“For a lot of patients it can be intimidating to seek care on an inpatient psychiatry unit, but what I’ve found inspiring are the design considerations that were employed in construction to promote wellness and recovery,” Kemp said.
He noted the design brings in as much natural light as possible, provides safe private areas where patients can reflect on the healing process and uses colors and art to foster healing. Hallways and rooms walls display nature scenes with soothing colors.
“Even the paint colors were chosen to foster a tranquil environment. So I think it’s truly a place where patients will want to come to receive care,” he said.
The center has other amenities, too, including an exercise room and spaces for group meetings.
The new inpatient center is not the only change Advocate is making in the region to meet increasing mental health needs, Kemp said. Efforts are also ramping up to improve access for behavioral health in primary care offices.
Hospital officials hope the increased connection to primary care physicians will help reduce the stigma that many people still feel attaches to mental health treatment.
“Our goal is to ultimately have behavioral health integrated into every single Advocate medical group primary care office in the South Suburbs,” he said. “This diminishes that stigma and allows them to get the services in an environment that they’re familiar with and much more comfortable in.”
At the ribbon cutting ceremony, South Suburban Advocate Hospital President Dr. Michelle Blakely thanked the team responsible for leading the 18-month effort to develop the $20 million center.
“It’s a huge win for our community,” she said. “It means patients will have shorter wait times for mental health care that they need. It also means patients will be able to receive care closer to their homes, closer to their families.”
More information at advocatehealth.com or 708-799-8000.