Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has been busy celebrating a significant boost in local mental health support infrastructure by unveiling the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center’s expanded Behavioral Health Unit. The new and improved facility cost a hefty $10.3 million and means a tripling of the unit’s capacity, now offering 24 beds over the previous five and spreading out over 7,000 square feet compared to a mere 1,500 before the upgrade. Helping to curb the serious problem of emergency room wait times and overcrowding, the community can now anticipate more timely and specialized care, which is especially significant since the last expansion was in 2009.
Ball is optimistic about the expanded BHU’s impact on the community. “Mental health is just as important as physical health, and today s opening marks a significant leap forward in ensuring our residents receive the timely and supportive care they deserve,” Ball stated, as perHoward County’s press release. This details how the sole hospital in Howard County, like many others in the area, has experienced a significant rise in emergency room volumes, leading to prolonged wait times. Ball asserted, “With this expansion, we are now able to better address hospital wait times and overcrowding within our emergency department.”
The expansion’s purpose extends beyond bed numbers. It’s about a holistic approach to mental wellness. The layout includes open treatment spaces, semi-private rooms, and areas designated for therapy. The improved flow and care provided by the BHU will enable Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center to treat an estimated 20 to 25 more emergency patients each day, thus playing a key role in managing patient influx and reducing the pressure on emergency services.
Funding for this essential development has been a group effort, getting a push start from Howard County with $2 million, topped by state funds of $2.6 million, and the filling of the financial gap thanks to a $3 million fundraising effort led by the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center Foundation. Mental health cases in hospital visits have seen an alarming rise, comprising 18.3% of visits in 2021 alone a surge from 10.5% a mere eight years prior, according to county reports.
Over the past five years, Howard County has invested over $12 million to expand the medical center s capacity, emergency room, and community health programs. The latest focus on behavioral health services shows the county s commitment to supporting residents’ mental well-being. The expanded Behavioral Health Unit will open on December 2, continuing the county’s efforts to improve health care access.
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