The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler-based UT Health East Texas and Plano, Texas-based Oceans Healthcare have partnered to expand behavioral health services in the eastern area of the state.
As part of the joint venture, the systems will open a $7 million behavioral health facility in Tyler that will offer services for patients of all ages as well as for high-acuity patients, according to an Aug. 22 news release from UT Health East Texas. Oceans' behavioral health hospital in Longview will also be renovated and expanded. Both facilities will serve as teaching sites for medical students, residents and fellows of UT Tyler School of Medicine.
"We are honored to be part of a solution that expands inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services to East Texans, including the addition of services for adolescents, and supports the training of current and future behavioral health providers for the region," Donald Baker, UT Health East Texas market president, said in the release. "This is a great example of how collaboration among all sectors of our community – public, private, government – can lead to solutions that benefit everyone, especially in addressing critical healthcare needs across our region."
The facilities will operate under the name UT Health East Texas Behavioral Health, with the new facility in Tyler expected to open in 2026.