Two Hospitals Selected to Increase Rural Psychiatric and Substance Use Treatment Capacity The Department of Health and Human Services announced the selection of two hospitals for grant awards to increase the number and availability of inpatient psychiatric and substance use treatment beds in rural hospital beds

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the selection of two hospitals for grant awards to increase the number and availability of inpatient psychiatric and substance use treatment beds in rural hospital beds 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 was reposted for the state’s eastern region. Those applications are due June 9.
 
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 on July 24, 2015.
 
“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.
 
The hospitals will develop new beds by converting unused acute medical beds and/or new construction. Each hospital will create at least 18 new psychiatric/substance use treatment beds.
 
Duke Life Point Maria Parham Medical Center LLC in Henderson was awarded $10,010,350 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 was awarded $6,503,478 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 Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services provides quality support to achieve self-determination for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and quality services to promote treatment and recovery for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders.