Ground broken on $26 million, 80-bed psychiatric facility in southwest valley

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The Behavioral Health Center at Southern Hills Hospital, Sunset Road and Fort Apache Road, is shown in a rendering. Ground was broken on Oct. 26, 2017.

Published Thu, Oct 26, 2017 (9:21 a.m.)

Updated Thu, Oct 26, 2017 (4:15 p.m.)

To help address the critical need for more mental health resources in Southern Nevada, a new 80-bed psychiatric facility is on the way.

Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center, part of the Sunrise Health System, broke ground today on the Behavioral Health Center at Southern Hills Hospital, on the northeast corner of Sunset Road and Fort Apache Road.

The $26 million facility, which will treat patients as young as 13, will be 43,000 square feet and feature cutting-edge patient tracking and safety systems, a hospital spokesman said. This includes real-time location systems, laser curtains in the adolescent unit between beds, alarms on top of the doors to detect weight and other anti-ligature/ligature prevention technology. Construction is expected to take about 12 months.

“Presently, behavioral health patients are often treated in an emergency room and remain in the ER environment until a hospital bed is available,” said Adam Rudd, chief executive officer of Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center. “With this new unit dedicated to behavior health treatment, our patients will experience a more efficient and appropriate continuum of care addressing their specific needs throughout their hospital stay.”

A number of local officials were on hand for the ground breaking ceremony, including Clark County Commissioner Susan Brager, state Sen. Becky Harris; and state Assembly members Nelson Araujo, Ellen Spiegel and Steve Yeager.

“This new center will go a long way in meeting the critical need in our community of helping those with mental health issues,” Brager said. “Not only is this center a direct benefit to patients, it is a great resource for families and caretakers and the community at large. We commend the leadership of Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center for their plan to develop a large and top-notch Behavioral Health Center right here in Southern Nevada.”

The center, an expansion of Southern Hills’ psychiatric services, will add 40 adult beds, 20 adolescent beds and 20 geriatric beds. It will have four outdoor recreation areas designed for psychiatric patients and their therapy. The hospital’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) program will begin offering a psychiatry residency in 2018, timed with the opening of the new facility.

This version of the story adds details and Commissioner Brager's remarks.

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