Newport News, Va.-based Riverside Health System will open Virginia's first psychiatric emergency department this fall, The Virginian-Pilot reported Oct. 5.
The facility will open at the Riverside Mental Health and Recovery Center in Hampton, Va., and can treat up to 10 pediatric and adult patients at a time.
The facility will use the emergency psychiatric assessment, treatment and healing, or EmPATH model, to treat patients. The facility has small, private rooms and a "living room" space for patients who would benefit from community interaction in a calm environment, according to the report.
Riverside Health has added around 60 new positions to keep the new emergency department staffed.
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