Pomegranate Health Systems Adolescent Psychiatry Breaks Ground On Facility Expansion
Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) July 23, 2014 -- Angela Nickell, CEO, announced that Pomegranate Health Systems of Central Ohio has broken ground to add to the existing psychiatric hospital and residential treatment facility located off Harmon Avenue. Pomegranate Health Systems treats teens with serious mental and behavioral health disorders. The additional space will provide two ten bed residential units, transitional outpatient space, as well as 7-9 more offices.
Pomegranate’s acute hospital doubled in size the summer of 2013, and now treats up to twenty teens in crisis. The acute unit serves to stabilize adolescents who suffer suicidal or homicidal ideation or psychosis; those who may be a danger to themselves or others. Transitional outpatient treatment space is planned to provide follow up psychiatric care and medication management until a teen is ready to transition to community based care providers and area counseling services. Twenty additional beds are being added to the residential treatment facility to provide space for teens who require an intensive therapeutic program, many who suffer post-traumatic stress syndrome, and/or exhibit other mental or behavioral health disorders, as Pomegranate expands its referral base to accommodate the needs of the community.
The new construction adds approximately 9000 square feet to the existing 45,000 square foot facility. Pomegranate Health Systems opened its Columbus location, built specifically for an adolescent psychiatric population in 2008, and subsequently closed a predecessor facility in Byesville, Ohio. By 2013, an expansion of the acute unit to 20 beds necessitated remodeling, as Pomegranate also became certified by The Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation to accept Medicaid patients. The 24-7 facility currently employs 150-170 employees: largely nursing, clinical, and direct care case workers.
The end of 2012, Pomegranate Health Systems had introduced an innovative juvenile competency attainment program, aimed at helping teens achieve competency to stand trial, in addition to receiving treatment for the mental and behavioral health disorders which often accompany delinquent behavior. The unique program was designed in collaboration with Terry Kukor, PhD, ABPP, Director of Forensic and Specialized Assessment Services at Netcare, and Daniel L. Davis, PhD, ABPP, Senior Forensic Psychologist, Netcare. The goal was to treat the underlying behavioral causes associated with incompetency. Research shows up to 70% of youth in the juvenile justice population suffer from mental or behavioral health disorders.
“By growing and expanding, we now have the space to offer transitional outpatient therapy to better serve our patients upon discharge from our acute hospital by January 2015. By offering additional intensive residential treatment beds, we help stabilize and provide teens with the coping skills to help them achieve permanency and resilience in the community,’ she adds. “We are in the process of continuing to build and expand our outstanding team,’ according to Angela Nickell, CEO.
“Pomegranate Health Systems aims to be a leading presence in adolescent psychiatry in Central Ohio,” adds Dr. Sathappan, Medical Director. "Our programming helps teens move toward recovery through intensive residential treatment and counseling. We already offer physical examinations, nursing care, nutrition, psychological evaluation and education through Summit Academy on-site; this just completes the circle of care.’ Dr. Sathappan, a graduate of Duke University, has over 20 years’ experience, and has treated thousands of teens since the Pomegranate Health Systems facility opened in Columbus.
Pomegranate Health Systems is located in the West Edge Business Park across from LifeCare Alliance. Pomegranate Health Systems is licensed and certified by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, accredited by The Joint Commission, and is a member of The Ohio Hospital Association. It is a member of, and supports both NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) -Franklin County, and MHA (Mental Health America)-FC.
Patricia Rodemann, Pomegranate Health Systems, 6142231650, [email protected]
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