New Orleans-based LCMC Health broke ground on the first inpatient behavioral health unit at New Orleans East Hospital.
The new unit will provide specialized care for patients experiencing a mental health crisis and behavioral health conditions, and provide comprehensive, patient-centered treatment and recovery, according to a June 16 system news release. Construction on the unit will begin immediately.
“Behavioral health needs continue to grow throughout our community, and too many individuals and families struggle to find timely access to care,” Takeisha Davis, MD, president and CEO of New Orleans East Hospital, said in the release. “This expansion will help close a longstanding gap in care, ensuring patients can access specialized behavioral health services closer to home while remaining connected to their support systems, loved ones and community resources.”
Louisiana ranks among the lowest states for access to mental healthcare, the release said. More than 330,000 adults statewide experience a serious mental illness each year, but more than half do not receive treatment.
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