Timely Access to Behavioral Health Services is Essential for Saving Lives

BRIDGETON, NJ (May 24) — At any given time, 25 percent of the adult population – or 77.9 million people – throughout the country have mental illnesses. Within this group, an estimated 68 percent also have medical conditions, which could affect or be affected by mental health conditions. In addition, a significant number of individuals with mental health disorders also have substance use disorders. The combination of illnesses, particularly when they are not treated, leads to life spans averaging 25 to 37 years shorter than the general population. Timely access to behavioral health care services (i.e., for mental illnesses and substance use disorders) and integrated or coordinated physical health care is essential for individuals to manage their multiple health conditions and potentially lead longer, more fulfilling and successful lives.

“Here at Inspira, we are available to serve individuals and families in need of mental health support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week regardless of their ability to pay,” said Dave Moore, M.S.N., R.N., B.C., director of Behavioral Health Services, Inspira Health Center Bridgeton. “Inspira provides a full scope of services for adults and children, which we specifically tailor to meet the needs of each individual. Today, through our facilities in Bridgeton and Woodbury, we provide mental health services to more than four thousand adults and children each year.”

Inspira’s Behavioral Health Services offers a broad range of outpatient and inpatient mental health services to the region at its Health Center Bridgeton and Medical Center Woodbury. Whether a client needs short-term counseling for a difficult emotional issue or intensive therapy to avoid hospitalization, Inspira Behavioral Health Services provides programs for all ages and all income levels. In addition to sliding fee scales, Inspira accepts Medicare, Medicaid, many insurance programs and also works with the state charity care program so that no one in need goes without care.

This summer, Behavioral Health Services at Inspira’s Health Center Bridgeton will celebrate the opening of its renovated and expanded mental health units as part of an $18 million renovation and expansion project that began in May 2011.

“We are very excited as we prepare to open our brand new Adult Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit. This state-of-the-art center will provide a top of the line environment for quality care with more private rooms for our patients and also enable our staff to help more families in need of mental health services,” said Moore.

The expansion project doubles the square footage of the adult mental health unit providing 33-beds, including 23-beds in a secured section and the remaining10-beds for voluntary patients. Also, in January 2014 Inspira will open a fully renovated, 12-bed child adolescent unit that will provide even more services to children and families in need.

For those in need of mental health services in the Gloucester County area, Inspira Medical Center Woodbury’s Behavioral Health Services provides area residents, including adults and children, with effective and appropriate treatment in a positive and supportive environment.
Woodbury’s Adult Partial Hospitalization Program specializes in the care of co-occurring disorders of mental health and substance abuse. The Children’s Behavioral Health program offers intensive support to children ages 5 through 12. Both the adult and child programs provide services similar in intensity and scope of inpatient treatment, but with significantly less disruption to patients and their families.

In addition to its adult and child programs, Woodbury operates a 6-bed behavioral health pod located in the hospital’s emergency department to provide a designated treatment area for those patients in need.

“We’re very proud to be one of the few hospitals in the region to have dedicated beds in our emergency department for patients seeking emergency mental health treatment,” said Susan Speranza, L.C.S.W., C.A.D.C., director of Behavioral Health Services, Inspira Medical Center Woodbury. “It’s a unique service that our hospital offers and with these dedicated beds, we have increased the level of privacy and care for our patients and their families in this critical time of need.”

To request treatment or to find out more about Inspira’s Behavioral Health Services, please call Inspira Behavioral Health Services Bridgeton at (856) 575-4111 or Inspira Behavioral Health Services Woodbury at (856) 251-3300 for adults and (856) 251-9059 for children’s services.

About Inspira Health Network

Inspira Health Network is a charitable nonprofit health care organization formed in November 2012 by the merger of South Jersey Healthcare and Underwood-Memorial Hospital. The network, which traces its roots to 1899, now comprises three hospitals, four multi-specialty health centers and a total of more than 60 locations. These include outpatient imaging and rehabilitation centers; urgent care; numerous specialty centers, including sleep medicine, cardiac testing and wound care; home care and hospice; and more than two dozen primary and specialty physician practices in Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.

Together with its medical staff of more than 1,100 physicians and other care providers, Inspira Health Network provides evidence-based care to help each patient achieve the best possible outcome. Clinical and support staffs are focused on providing safe care in a safe environment.