Gulf Coast Psychiatric LLC proposes new regional psychiatric hospital
AltaPointe Health Systems, Baldwin County Mental Health, Gulf Health Hospitals form LLC
Residents of Baldwin, Mobile and Washington counties experiencing psychiatric crises will have better access to emergency room and acute care if the State approves plans for a proposed hospital for adults. Gulf Coast Psychiatric (GCP), LLC has submitted plans and a certificate of need (CON) application for a 66-bed psychiatric hospital for adults at the former “Poundstone” facility located in Daphne, which AltaPointe Health Systems, formerly Mobile Mental Health, has purchased from the State Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.
AltaPointe, Baldwin County Mental Health and Gulf Health Hospitals comprise the LLC. In December 2006, GCP-LLC applied for the CON application. “The LLC members’ combined experience, expertise and service record will enhance and improve the region’s psychiatric system of care,” said Tuerk Schlesinger, CEO of AltaPointe, speaking on behalf of the LLC members. “They have been the leading mental health service providers of inpatient and outpatient mental and behavioral healthcare for more than 50 years in this region.”
According to Schlesinger, this effort is not just a mental health hospital opening on the Eastern Shore. “It is a concept that comprises an extensive, integrated regional network of local healthcare providers, law enforcement, criminal justice, and educational institutions collaboratively addressing the community mental health needs as a whole,” he said.
According to the Alabama State Health Plan, there is a need of 197 additional adult psychiatric beds. One of the criteria determining bed need is population.
CON hearing will begin February 20
An Alabama Administrative Law Judge will adjudicate the contested CON hearing that also involves Senior Health, a Tennessee-based venture capital firm that operates psychiatric and rehabilitation services. Gulf Coast Psychiatric contested Senior Health’s CON application. Likewise, Senior Health has contested the Gulf Cost Psychiatric application.
At the hearing, each party will present details of its application and plans as well as call witnesses to support its case.
GCP Hospital also will meet medical education needs
In addition to meeting adult psychiatric acute care and crisis needs, GCP’s proposed 66-bed hospital will meet a number of non-patient care needs. The proposed hospital will be a teaching hospital as a direct affiliate of USA. Because of a long-standing relationship between AltaPointe and the University of South Alabama (USA) College of Medicine-Department of Psychiatry, it provides USA residents and medical students with education and training at AltaPointe’s BayPointe Hospital in Mobile. AltaPointe also trains USA’s allied health professional students in the Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant programs. It will meet other educational, training and research objectives, as well, and reach out to other health professional schools in the region.
USA contracts with AltaPointe to administer and operate its Department of Psychiatry. AltaPointe’s chief medical officer, Dr. Sandra Parker, is leading the department’s academic programs, and nine of AltaPointe’s psychiatrists serve as faculty.
With a nationwide shortage of psychiatrists, AltaPointe has been successful in recruiting and retaining highly qualified, board certified psychiatrists to its staff. The APHS-GCP, LLC-USA relationship will only enhance the prospect that medical school residents and students may choose psychiatry as a specialty and stay in this region to practice.
For more information about the Gulf Coast Psychiatric CON application and hospital plans, please contact Carol Mann at 251.662.7317.
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Established in 1957, Mobile Mental Health plans and facilitates a comprehensive healthcare system
that
promotes the wellness and recovery of children, adolescents, adults, and senior
adults living with
mental illness, substance abuse and mental retardation. |
