New Behavioral Health Unit Dedicated to Younger Patients Opens at Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center

SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. — Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center is expanding its behavioral health services by opening a new unit dedicated to serving younger adult patients located on Meeker Boulevard in Sun City West, Arizona.

The $3-million expansion has converted a former medical-surgical unit into a 20-bed inpatient behavioral health wing serving adults 18 years and older. The new unit opened to patients on Oct. 1.

Since the hospital’s opening in 1988, Banner Del E. Webb has operated a geriatric psychiatric inpatient unit for adults ages 55 and older. The Support, Adaptation, Growth, Enrichment  Inpatient Unit was the West Valley’s first medical and psychiatric inpatient program.

Until now, behavioral patients 18-54 years old had to be transferred to other facilities to be treated, often on the other side of town. With this unit’s opening, those younger adults can now receive the care they need on campus without having to be transferred if a bed is unavailable.

The new unit will also help free up much-needed beds in the hospital’s busy emergency room. Prior to the unit’s opening, behavioral patients under 55 could often be found occupying a bed in the ER as they awaited transfer to another hospital.

“The new unit will relieve congestion we currently see in the emergency department and provide patients with individualized treatment plans,” said Nancy Sylvester, behavioral health nursing director at the hospital. “The new state-of-the art unit cares for a wide range of behavioral health needs in a safe and pleasant environment.”

The project team included DPR Construction as construction manager and general contractor; SmithGroupJJR served as architect.