Author: Dan Guy
June 13, 2017 — The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced the selection of two hospitals to increase the number and availability of inpatient psychiatric and substance use treatment beds in rural hospitals across the state.
Duke Life Point Maria Parham Medical Center LLC in Henderson was selected in the central region, and Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital in Linville was selected in the western region. The request for applications for the state’s eastern region was reposted.
The hospitals will develop new beds by converting unused acute medical beds or through new construction. Each hospital will create at least 18 new psychiatric/substance use treatment beds.
“These hospitals will provide critical access to individuals needing inpatient mental health care in these regions of our state,” said Jason Vogler, Ph.D, interim senior director of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services.
Duke Life Point Maria Parham Medical Center, LLC in Henderson was awarded $10 million to renovate and convert 33 licensed psychiatric inpatient beds for adults at the site of the closed Franklin Regional Medical Center.
Charles A. Cannon, Jr. Memorial Hospital in Linville received $6.5 million to convert 27 acute medical beds into licensed psychiatric inpatient beds for adults.
The new beds will help reduce travel distances to inpatient beds and decrease wait times for individuals in emergency departments who need inpatient behavioral health care. At least half of the beds will serve people who are unable to pay for care, or have Medicaid, Medicare or TRICARE.
The General Assembly appropriated $18 million from the Dorothea Dix Hospital Property Fund for the increased capacity. North Carolina sold the property to the City of Raleigh in 2015.