April 6, 2021
A new Adult Behavioral Health Unit opens today at Heritage Valley Health System’s Kennedy Township hospital campus. The newly constructed 24-bed adult Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) focuses on the treatment and care of individuals, ages 18 and older, with behavioral health disorders.
“The new unit was developed with thoughtful input from our clinical staff working with architects and engineering professionals. The environment supports the emphasis we provide on therapeutic communication by offering expanded group areas, privacy, and safety features,” said Linda Homyk, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Heritage Valley Health System. “Specific attention was given to adding features to enhance patient safety and adhere to evolving environmental requirements for reducing self-harm set forth by Joint Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Health.”
The unit complements the existing geriatric behavioral health unit at Heritage Valley Kennedy. Additionally, three new intake rooms were added to the emergency department at the Kennedy Township hospital, for those arriving with specific behavioral health needs. With this new unit opening, the behavioral health unit at Heritage Valley’s Sewickley campus will close and current staff will transition to the new unit.
Heritage Valley Health System has a long tradition of serving the behavioral health care needs in the community. The Heritage Valley Health System Board of Directors and leadership team is committed to providing high-quality behavioral health care. Beyond the inpatient behavioral health care at Heritage Valley Kennedy and Heritage Valley Beaver hospitals, the Health System continues a long-standing partnership with Staunton Clinic, an outpatient mental health and resource coordination center, that enables care to continue, uninterrupted, when patients return home.
“Heritage Valley’s continuum of behavioral health care services is one of the many ways the Health System seeks to expand our reach and mission to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve,” added Ms. Homyk.
A video tour of the new unit is available, click here.
Located on the third floor of Heritage Valley Kennedy, the Adult Behavioral Health Unit is comprised of two sections, a 7-bed unit and a 17-bed unit, with shared treatment space. The center encompasses a complete wing of the hospital on the third floor, allowing for a safe environment for patients, family, and visitors.
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About Heritage Valley Health System
Heritage Valley Health System is a $535 million integrated delivery network providing comprehensive health care for residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties in Pennsylvania; eastern Ohio; and the panhandle of West Virginia. In partnership with 3,800 employees and more than 600 physicians, Heritage Valley offers a broad range of medical, surgical and diagnostic services at its three hospitals: Heritage Valley Sewickley, Heritage Valley Beaver and Heritage Valley Kennedy; in 55 physician offices; and more than 21 community satellite facilities. For more information about Heritage Valley Health System, please visit www.heritagevalley.org.