Page 43 - Healthcare News July-August 2020

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JULY/AUGUST 2020 WWW.HEALTHCARENEWS.COM 43
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONT’D Answering a Need
Two New Behavioral Health Hospitals Coming to Holyoke in 2022
By MARK MORRIS
For many years, behavioral health- care in Western Mass. has expe- rienced persistent shortages of hospital beds for inpatient treatment.
Two new hospital-affiliated projects, both located in Holyoke, may start to change things for the better.
In late July, Baystate Health announced a joint venture with Kindred Behavioral Health to build and operate a $43 million behavioral-health hospital for the region. During a news conference to announce the Baystate joint venture, Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health, described the 120-bed facility as “a contemporary healing environment for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors.”
While not yet final, Keroack said the favored site for the behavioral-health hospital is the former Holyoke Geriatric Authority site on Lower Westfield Road, selected in part because of its proximity to
both Interstate 91 and the Mass Pike.
The announcement comes on the heels of Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) reveal-
ing its proposal back in March to build a $40.6 million, 84-bed behavioral-health facility on its campus. If all goes accord- ing to plan, both hospitals will open in 2022.
The prospect of additional behavioral- health beds for the region was welcome news after Trinity Health Of New England announced earlier this year it would close 74 inpatient beds at Providence Behav- ioral Health Hospital.
Trinity spokesperson Mary Orr said the hospital is increasing its emphasis on out- patient care but is working with Holyoke Medical Center and three other hospitals to make sure those who need inpatient care will get it.
“We have expanded our focus on inpa- tient psychiatric diversion and outpatient care to reduce the need for patients in crisis to access Mercy’s Emergency De-
Spiros Hatiras says Holyoke Medical Center has long been assessing the need for more behavior- al-health beds
in the region.