Jump to content

UTHealth John Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center At 5615 H. Mark Crosswell Jr. St.


Urbannizer

Recommended Posts

This is great news! I'm a huge advocate for intellectual and mental disabilities.

 

This made my day! I was just saying that Texas should allocate more funding for mental healthcare. We have a long way to go to compete with other states regarding mental healthcare. A step in the right direction!

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...
  • 4 months later...
  • 3 months later...
  • 3 weeks later...
Quote

The program will begin promptly at 11:15 am, and will take place in the auditorium of UTHealth Harris County Psychiatric Center at 2800 South MacGregor Way. Complimentary parking will be available in the lot that will become the future site of the new building.  There will be signage and staff on hand to help guide you.
 

Giuseppe N. Colasurdo, MD
UTHealth President and Alkek-Williams Distinguished Chair

cordially invites you to preview plans
and a 3D simulation of the new

 

UTHealth Continuum of Care Campus for Behavioral Health
The largest behavioral health academic center in the nation focused on researching and developing leading-edge treatments and training the
next generation of health care providers

 

Quote

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I also attended the event and was fortunate to meet ekdrm2d1. I saw him taking pictures and figured he had to be a HAIFER. It's nice to put a face with a name.

I thought the event was very well run and informative. 

Also for all of those arguments in the past about whether the med center was in the 3rd ward. If it wasn't it is now.

This will be there second development in this very large tract of land that I'm sure will continue to grow. So yes the Med center is in the 3rd ward.

The new buildings 2 which are very attractive 2 and 3 story edifices. It's a very nice layout with the two buildings running parallel to each other with a connecting courtyard that provides quite a bit of open space. The buildings facade facing the courtyard is primarily glass and the front facing the main boulevard looks to be made of a white concrete or panels that have multiple widows of varying sizes running vertically and horizontally. They will have a park on one end that will be made available to patients to walk in, and a separate building for events held by the UTHSC and HHSE. The preview was followed by a nice table of light bites and beverages. It was very well attended by politicians regional health care specialists and UT brass.

They plan on Breaking ground this summer with completion 20/21

Edited by bobruss
  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

i believe the Meninger is private care. this is state operated. Their facility next door turns away up to 60 people a day.

So this is very necessary to the mental health of our community and helps get some of the people off of the streets.

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Harris Center is about to build another crisis center if I recall correctly.

 

I was on Nextdoor.com during a Memorial Hermann outpatient clinic development and my neighbors opposed it. They didn't want "crazies" and violent people roaming the neighborhood. It's sad the stigma attached with mental health. 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, ekdrm2d1 said:

The Harris Center is about to build another crisis center if I recall correctly.

 

I was on Nextdoor.com during a Memorial Hermann outpatient clinic development and my neighbors opposed it. They didn't want "crazies" and violent people roaming the neighborhood. It's sad the stigma attached with mental health.  

 

If anything the eastern fringe of the med center is the best area for this stuff. It's not really walkable, there are few businesses, most residential areas consist of gated apartment complexes, right? So even if there was problem with the people coming and going from this facility(as you say there probably won't be and people are scared of nothing) it won't effect anyone.

 

The worst thing you can do is concentrate social services in areas like Midtown and the East End(the status quo) because those are such open and exposed public spaces where you want people to feel safe walking or using public transit. That's how you get Wheeler station.

 

 

Edited by zaphod
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My mom went with me to the preview. She's a LMSW. Had mentioned this project is composed of three partners

  • TMC for the land
  • The state of TX for funding
  • UTHealth for staffing

I must have misheard. The existing parking lot belongs to UTHealth? Or is it property of TMC? For what it's worth, the barricades had TMC on them :lol:

Also, Texas only gave a small donation to kick off the project. Wonder if my mom is slightly mistaken.

 

DsF4pJr.jpg

 

ECYF1Hy.jpg

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Like the design and grouping of the masses for this project. This is actually fairly in line with contemporary techniques and looks today. Looks like a design you would see in the Netherlands or in Denmark, and thats a good thing.

 

As far as this conversation about "stigmas" I've really grown tired of that term. The "stigma" (like stereotypes) exist because there are elements of truth to it, and while people seem to want to focus on the "stigma" itself as being the problem, its not that at all. Its the actions that we take in RESPONSE to "stigmas" that needs focus. The stigma that exist for those with mental health shouldnt be a reason not to assist or help individuals (as would be the classic liberal argument in this case). We can't force people to change their opinions about people that are homeless, and of those homeless that are mentally ill. Not only would that be impossible, but completely authoritarian. Instead, opinion is swayed by the reasonable actions we take (instead of emotional action) to a given "stigma".

 

Further, I think its been interesting how this conversation has developed. We used to have a lot of dedicated institutions for those with mental health issues, but then the argument shifted to dismantling those institutions because it was seen at the time (arrogantly) that these people could live unassisted in the world and further assimilate. Literally the same kinds of people that advocated for those institutions dismantlement are the exact same who are coming back around asking society to once again build the new institutions to fix the issue. Its strange seeing how conversations operate when you look at them by generations.

Edited by Luminare
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
Quote

Texas health officials are planning to replace the aging Austin State Hospital as part of a $300 million endeavor to revamp the state’s crumbling psychiatric hospital system.

 

State and mental health leaders envision a state-of-the-art brain health center that will work with private and public organizations to deliver individualized mental health and substance abuse services.

 

The Texas Legislature approved the money last year to improve the 10 state hospitals in the system, according to Monday’s announcement by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

 

“A strong state psychiatric system is critically important to all Texans. This investment will benefit the state for generations,” Executive Commissioner Charles Smith said in a news release. “With this support from state leadership, we can update our facilities and be sure we are providing Texans with the very best mental health care possible.”

The first disbursement of money is $48 million, and $15.5 million of it will go toward creating a master plan to replace Austin State Hospital.

 

The 160-year-old hospital, near West 41st and Guadalupe streets in Central Austin, is the oldest psychiatric hospital in the state. Construction of the new hospital, which could begin as early as late next year, is estimated to cost about $235 million, according to the state health commission.

 

https://www.statesman.com/news/20180109/replacement-of-austin-state-hospital-part-of-300-million-state-plan

 

Off topic, but great news for the Texas mental health industry!

Edited by ekdrm2d1
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...
  • 3 weeks later...

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/health/article/Construction-begins-on-first-public-mental-health-14054220.php?utm_source=desktop&utm_medium=collection&utm_campaign=hcpromomod

Construction begins on first public mental health hospital in Harris County in more than 30 years

By Natalie Weber, Staff writer June 26, 2019 Updated: June 26, 2019 7:06 p.m.
 
gallery_xlarge.jpg
1of3This conceptual rendering shows UTHealth's Continuum of Care Campus for Behavorial Health. Officials broke ground on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, and expect to admit patients by early 2022. Once complete, the full campus, which will include the new hospital and UTHealth Harris County Psychiatric Center will become the largest academic Photo: Courtesy of UTHealth
gallery_xlarge.jpg
2of3Construction on the new UTHealth Continuum of Care Campus for Behavioral Health began Wednesday, June 26, 2019, and be completed by the end of 2021. It will be the largest behavioral health academic center in the United States.Photo: Courtesy photo
gallery_xlarge.jpg
3of3An unveiling of plans for the UTHealth Continuum of Care Campus for Behavioral Health was held Friday, Jan. 10, 2019, at 5601 W. Leland Anderson St. in the Texas Medical Center. It will provide 240 psychiatric beds in Houston, which has not had a mental health hospital built in more than 30 years.The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston broke ground Wednesday for its new psychiatric hospital, the first new public psychiatry hospital in Houston in more than 30 years.

The $125 million hospital, built in partnership with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, will add 240 new beds dedicated to psychiatric healthcare in the county. Combined with the UTHealth Harris County Psychiatric Center, it will make up the UTHealth Continuum of Care Campus for Behavioral Health — the largest academic psychiatric hospital in the country. It is expected to open in early 2022.

Fred Schuster, regional director for Region VI of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said during the ceremony that Wednesday’s groundbreaking was a sign of progress for the state.

 

“For decades, mental illness has been the largest health disparity that we did not talk about,” he said. “But today’s event is evidence that Texas is committed to changing that.”

Groundbreaking for UTHealth Continuum of Care Campus for Behavioral Health

First new public psychiatric hospital in Houston in more than 30 years

Largest academic psychiatric hospital in the country

Number of new beds: 240

Cost: $125 million

Completion date: Early 2022

Source: UTHealth

 

The hospital will provide mental health care in an region where many consider the Harris County jail to be the state’s biggest mental health facility.

“Our goal is to continue these investments and work to decriminalize mental health,” Texas State Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, said at the ceremony. “We need to treat mental health patients [for] the illnesses that they have — get those patients the help that they need out of our jails.”

 

Harris County has also been making efforts to direct low-level offenders with mental health illnesses to healthcare, instead of jail.

In May, the county announced it was expanding a program that would send people to the Judge Ed Emmett Mental Health Diversion Center in Midtown as a pre-booking alternative in place of jail, if they show clear signs of mental illness and have committed certain non-violent, low-level offenses. From September to May, more than 1,000 people were sent to the center and authorities expected the number to increase with the new program.

In a statement to the Houston Chronicle, Denise Oncken, mental health bureau chief for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, said the hospital will also help keep people out of the criminal justice system.

“Thanks to the vision of the district attorney and law enforcement, great strides have been [made] to keep the mentally ill out of jail by diverting them from the criminal-justice system when they are accused of low-level, non-violent offenses and instead getting them the help they need,” she said. “Not only does this save money for Harris County, it is the right thing to do. With the groundbreaking at HCPC, Harris County will be able to help more individuals on the front end before any involvement with the criminal justice system.”

 

And the addition of more psychiatric beds will make community-based care more accessible to people before they become involved in an incident with police, said Wayne Young, CEO of the Harris Center For Mental Health and IDD, a Houston agency with clinics across the region that works with people who have both mental health and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“They don’t have to go through the criminal justice system,” he said in a phone interview Wednesday.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Harris County to expand program for offenders with mental health illness

Sydrena Tufts, a recovery coach with the Harris County District Courts, said many of the clients she works with have been self-medicating because they have trouble getting access to the medications they need. She hopes the new hospital will increase their access to continuous care, as well as destimigatize mental health care.

 

“I would expect it [to] assist a lot of individuals that are too afraid to have the help,” she said later Wednesday. “ hope this would help them reach out.”

Young said increasing the number of beds is important because it will increase the availability of long-term care for patients.

“Not [everyone] can be stabilized in a short period of time,” he said.

At Wednesday’s ceremony, Dr. Jair Soares, executive director of UTHealth Continuum of Care Campus, also noted that one of the main goals of the hospital is to increase opportunities for patients who need long term care.

 

“This hospital is designed to be flexible to meet the needs of the community as they change over time,” he said. “Short term acute beds will be easily transitioned into longer term ... beds as needed.”

Melissa Allen, the chief medical officer of the UTHealth Harris County Psychiatric Center, said allowing for longer hospital stays can significantly increase patients’ ability to recover.

“By providing some more intensive care, we’re able to decrease the readmission rates within six months by 4.7 times,” she said. “Not only are our patients more stable and staying out of the hospital, but they’re able to return to their work and to their families feeling better and doing well.”

Staff writer James Pinkerton contributed to this report.

natalie.weber@chron.com

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • The title was changed to UTHealth John Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center At 5615 H. Mark Crosswell Jr. St.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...