CUYAHOGA COUNTY – The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County held a Special Meeting of the Board on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at which Scott S. Osiecki, ADAMHS Board CEO and staff recommended that the Board of Directors approve funding for the standalone Psychiatric Emergency Department (PED) at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center for calendar year 2023 in the amount of $4,447,412. The Board approved the recommendation and authorized any necessary contractual agreements with St. Vincent Charity Medical Center.
“The ADAMHS Board has provided support and funding for the Psychiatric Emergency Department at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center (SVCMC) for decades. This support and funding was never in jeopardy as the PED is a vital part of the crisis continuum of care in Cuyahoga County,” said Osiecki.
J. Robert Fowler, Ph.D, ADAMHS Board Chair stated, “We have supported every effort to ensure our crisis continuum of care continues to meet the needs of the community. Ensuring that people have access to services is at the center of all our decisions. That’s why the Board has approved the funding for St. Vincent’s standalone Psychiatric Emergency Department.”
“The Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, Sisters of Charity Health System and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center extend deep gratitude to the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County for their decision in continuing as our dedicated funding partner for the Psychiatric Emergency Department at St. Vincent Charity’s downtown Cleveland campus,” said Janice G. Murphy, MSN, FACHE, president & CEO, Sisters of Charity Health System.
“We are ready and committed to continue to provide services to our community in the Psychiatric Emergency Department. We provide high quality care and services to over 3,500 individuals per year and our centralized location accommodates a large number of walk-in patients, police runs, as well as EMS patients. We will continue to coordinate with other agencies and services to enhance the delivery of care through an effective continuum. We serve a population with acute and special needs in the most appropriate setting and this alleviates the challenges other facilities, including medical emergency departments, might face.”
BACKGROUND:
On September 14, 2022, SVCMC notified the community that it would close its inpatient and surgical services as of November 15, 2022, which includes the loss of inpatient beds in the psychiatric unit, as well as residential treatment and inpatient detox beds in Rosary Hall. St. Vincent’s was unclear on the continued operation of the PED.
As the result of conversations with the leadership of St. Vincent’s, the leadership of the ADAMHS Board and Dr. Kathyrn Burns, a consultant engaged by the ADAMHS Board to assess the crisis continuum, the ADAMHS Board received written notification from Adnan Tahir, MD, President and CEO of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center stating: “St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is committed to continuing to provide service in our Psychiatric Emergency Room beyond our transition to an Ambulatory model on November 15, 2022, and into the calendar year 2023. We are currently pursuing transfer agreements with other hospitals for patients who will need an admission.” The letter also stated that they have “initiated the process to renew certification with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.”
The Psychiatric Emergency Department (PED) is one of two facilities in the state of Ohio that offers psychiatric care 24-hours-per-day. It provides a safety net for over 3,000 patients annually and offers specialized care for individuals facing a mental health crisis. Patients at the PED have access to a psychiatrist or licensed practitioner around the clock, as well as nurses, mental health technicians and other dedicated staff who provide services including crisis stabilization, 23-hour observation, assessment and discharge planning.
