Mercy Health-Lima President Ronda Lehman talks about the health system’s new behavioral health unit, which will open to patients Monday.
Photo by Mackenzi Klemann | The Lima News
LIMA — A new behavioral health unit at Mercy Health-St. Rita’s Medical Center is set to open to patients Monday.
St. Rita’s welcomed visitors for private tours of the 21-bed inpatient adult behavioral health unit Friday, days before patients are expected to move from the hospital’s old behavioral unit to the seventh floor.
The unit serves an average of 90 patients in need of acute mental health care per month, while another 3,000 patients come through the emergency department for crisis services, according to Dawn Mansfield, director of behavioral services.
But the old behavioral health unit “started to feel sterile and cold,” Mercy Health-Lima President Ronda Lehman said during a dedication ceremony Friday. So, the health system pledged to build a new space.
“This has been a dream of ours for some time,” Lehman said. “Our commitment and compassionate care for those who need us, even on their most difficult days, has never been in question, but we knew that our space was showing its wear.”
The new unit repositions nursing stations to improve visibility for patient safety and maximizes bed availability by increasing the number of private rooms.
An intensive outpatient clinic is next door for patients to continue receiving psychiatric care post-discharge.
Patients have access to art therapy through ArtSpace/Lima and the Lima Symphony Orchestra too.
“They relax, they let their guard down and they talk about what they’re dealing with in a safe space,” Mansfield said.
Patients will move into the new space on Monday.
