The University of Toledo Medical Center will hold the grand opening of its Senior Behavioral Health Center.

The open house will be 10 a.m. to noon Friday, June 6 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in the Kobacker Center. The center plans to accept its first patients Tuesday, June 10.

The center is a senior-based medical program that monitors the health of adult patients 55 years and older who are experiencing emotional or behavioral health issues. Partnered with Horizon Health Services, a behavioral health management company that builds, manages and improves psychiatric programs within a hospital setting, the center investigates what the source of any health issues might be and diagnoses the problem.

This facility is different than other geriatric care facilities because it thoroughly tests all aspects of the patient’s condition, including prior and current health issues, medications and lifestyle choices to fix the problem, and providing a positive outcome for the patient, explained Carol Schaaf, the center’s program director.

“We’ll be able to tell if our patients are getting better,” Schaaf said. “We’ll be able to tell you how much better they’re getting and what symptoms are improving. We’ll be able to tell why those symptoms are improving and what we did that made it better.”

There will be 18 beds available at the center, which will accept patients 24 hours a day. Referrals can be made by anyone, including physicians, psychologists, social workers and family members. Most insurances will be accepted, Schaaf said.

Prior to this center, UTMC had a gero-psychiatric unit that was closed in 2008 due to changes in hospital programs.

The center also is available to present mental health educational programs in the community free of charge.

Media Coverage
The Blade (June 9, 2014)
WTOL 11, WNWO and 13 ABC (June 10, 2014)

Tags: The University of Toledo Medical Center (UTMC)