Akron Children’s Expands Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit

Construction has completed on Akron Children’s Hospital’s inpatient pediatric behavioral health unit, located in Akron, Ohio. This adds 10 beds to the existing 14 and remodeling rooms to make them private and better suited for patient care.

Area group activities in remodeled Akron Children’s Behavioral Health Unit.

Akron Children’s cares for approximately 1,000 children and teens in its inpatient behavioral health unit each year. The expansion will allow the hospital to treat an additional 500 patients in 2017, increasing to 750 patients by 2020 for a total of 1,750 annually. At the same time, the expanded unit will allow for growth in educational opportunities and training for medical students and adult psychiatry residents from Northeast Ohio Medical University.

Access to care is a nationwide challenge, and poor mental health is associated with increased risk of substance abuse, teen pregnancy and higher school drop-out rates, crime and other risk-taking behaviors. The hospital’s inpatient unit is intended to stabilize children and teens ages 5-17 in behavioral health crisis. This includes those attempting to hurt themselves or others, those participating in unsafe behaviors and those diagnosed with a psychotic illness.

The inpatient unit is the hub for group and individual therapy throughout the patient’s stay. A typical day may include exercise, various forms of art therapy, yoga, time for written reflection and other activities rooted in evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy. There are opportunities for patients to meet individually with their healthcare providers, stay up on school work, participate in group discussions and even prepare meals together. Summit Construction served as general contractor on the project; the architect was TC Architects.

Source: www.akronchildrens.org.