CLEVELAND – University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital is expanding its services for psychiatric patients, thanks to a $5 million grant from The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation. The gift, received in 2004, included funds for an inpatient psychiatric unit in the Horvitz patient tower at Rainbow and for research to advance treatment. The inpatient unit construction is now complete, and ready to serve this important patient group.
The new 14-bed unit led by Noah Miller, MD, director of inpatient psychiatry, will feature a partitioned activity/dining area, group therapy room and two patient lounges to be used in a variety of program tracks depending on patient need. Admission to the unit requires patients to meet specific diagnosis and acuity criteria and/or court-ordered inpatient treatment.
“The inpatient unit adds significant opportunity for us to help those children most at need for psychiatric help,” said Dr. Miller. “Unfortunately, more and more children and teens are requiring more in-depth psychiatric services and hospitalization. We know this unit will fill-up quickly, and adding this hospitalization option to our current psychiatry program integrates superior patient care, training of future mental health professionals and pioneering evidence-based clinical research to advance treatment outcomes.”
Rainbow’s psychiatry division provides a wide range of assessment and treatment services performed by physicians who specialize in child and adolescent psychiatry led by Robert Findling, MD, division chief of child and adolescent psychiatry and a world-class expert in treating children with bipolar disorder and depression. The psychiatry team works closely with social work professionals, occupational, music and art therapists, behavioral pediatricians, and a breadth of Rainbow medical specialists to support the entire family through the child’s illness. Patients will have the opportunity to complete school work, and participate in recreational and physical activities. Pastoral care, pharmacy consultations and dietary planning will also be available to patients.
“The enhancements to our psychiatric program align the mission of University Hospitals and our services with the world-class expertise of this talented team of specialists,” said Mike Farrell, president, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and MacDonald Women’s Hospital. “Rainbow is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of children and adolescents, and the additions to our psychiatric program will provide diagnostic and treatment services to stabilize acutely ill patients with serious mental disorders. We are pleased to provide comprehensive multidisciplinary care to these children.”