By Andrew Edwards
Elmore/Autauga News Staff Writer
Prattville Baptist Hospital’s 15-month Geriatric Behavioral Health Wing project ended on Monday morning, as public and state officials, health providers and other citizens gathered to watch the ribbon cutting.
The project, costing $6.5 million, will provide a brand new, 22-bed wing designed for inpatient psychological and behavioral care for older patients. The addition will provide a secure environment with optimal treatment and management of complex mental health conditions for older adults.
Each room is fitted with two beds, a bathroom, and an open cubby for storing clothes. There is also an activity space at the heart of the new wing, a hydration station, and a group room. The inpatient program will ultimately help to treat anxiety, mood, psychotic and other disorders.
“Bringing these needed services to our community not only changes the landscape for our hospital’s campus, but for the City of Prattville as well,” said Eric Morgan, CEO of Prattville Baptist Hospital. “Growth and healthcare services helps to attract more people to our area, and further confirms Baptist Health and Prattville Baptist Hospital’s commitment to expanding services now and well into the future.”
Dean Argo, Chair of hospital’s advisory board, spoke about the challenges for such a project in the midst of a pandemic.
“If there’s one thing that we’ve learned through this pandemic, is that our weaknesses have risen to the top. We have known by looking at our medical professionals here today how difficult it has been for them – the walk they had to endure over the last 15 months,” Argo said. “But it’s also allowed us to assess our strengths. One of our strengths is that Baptist Health has never stopped assessing the needs of our community and the needs of the river region. The fact that this facility is opening today is a testament to the fact that we are going to continue to build on our strengths – that the citizens of the river region deserve premier health care services.”
The new wing will provide mental health care in a time where the subject is more prevalent than ever.
Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie spoke specifically on the importance that mental health maintenance means to this area and across the country.
“Primary Health Care is so, so important. Emergency Health Care is so, so important. Sometimes we do overlook the mental side of that because mental health is health as well. So, this [the wing] is very, very important,” Gillespie said. “There’s so many communities that wish they had this – so many communities that are having to go out and find ways to get that health care. I want to say thank you to the commitment that’s been provided by Baptist Health to this community because this has meant so much to so many.”
Russ Tyner, CEO of Baptist Health, recognized the services that employees of Baptist Health provide. He explained that the new wing has been sought after for years, making today that much more special.
“It’s not just the building, it’s the people of course, and the services they can provide. If you haven’t had the opportunity to utilize the services of geriatric behavioral health, you’ll appreciate it when it’s done incredibly well. This gives Baptist Health the opportunity to do it in a fist class fashion and facility. So, I’m incredibly proud of that,” Tyner said. “I’ve had the privilege of being a part of the Baptist Health team for 16 years, and from the day I got here, there was a need and intention to create a new facility in Prattville. And while that was very difficult to pull off for a number of reasons, I think we came pretty close today. I feel very good about how not only this looks, but also what it means for this facility moving forward.”
For more information about Prattville Baptist Health, including healthcare services and specialties, hospital location, and visiting hours, visit https://www.baptistfirst.org/locations/prattville-baptist-hospital
PBH Mission: Originally built in 1952 by two local physicians, Prattville Baptist Hospital has grown to offer a full range of high-quality healthcare services to residents throughout Autauga and Elmore counties. As a progressive, community focused facility, we combine the latest advancements in medical technology with warm, compassionate care.
