The facility will open in stages starting later this year and will offer a 20-bed inpatient unit and an intensive outpatient program by 2025.
Chesapeake, Virginia —
Chesapeake Regional Medical Center’s new psychiatric emergency room will focus exclusively on mental health care.
The Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) will transform mental health care in the Commonwealth’s second-largest city, as the new facility will provide people suffering from mental illness a dedicated space to receive care separate from the emergency room.
“The care environment in treating patients with mental illness is so important as part of their recovery,” said Amber Egyed, chief nurse and executive director.
Egyedo said the program being built will allow staff to provide a continuum of care for behavioral health patients in crisis situations. The program will be located in a renovated area of the emergency room. When complete, the area will have 20 beds for inpatient care and an intensive outpatient program.
Virginia Health and Human Services Secretary John Littell and Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Director Nelson Smith spoke about the $3.7 million grant awarded to the hospital at a press conference this afternoon.
“The reality is, when we needed outpatient services, Chesapeake was accommodating. When we had discussions about whether to take on inpatient care, Chesapeake was accommodating,” Little said.
The grant is part of Governor Yunkin’s commitment to investing in and reforming Virginia’s current behavioral health system. The Governor visited Chesapeake Regional Hospital last October to learn more about the health system’s plans to build a behavioral health program at the hospital.
