Pardee Hospital Launches Inpatient Psychiatric Center for Teens

Bridget Fluech, the administrative director of behavioral health and emergency medicine at Pardee, emphasized that the center fills a crucial gap in youth mental health care, situated between outpatient services and emergency departments. For teenagers experiencing a behavioral health crisis, outpatient care may not suffice, while emergency rooms do not offer the prolonged, specialized treatment necessary.

Since its opening, the center has already treated 12 patients within its first week, as reported by Fluech on September 17. She explained that the center operates on a recovery model of care, focusing on symptom stabilization, emotional regulation, crisis intervention, and the development of healthy coping strategies.

Previously, Henderson County teens had limited options for specialized behavioral health care, often requiring them to leave the county for treatment. The only other specialized center, AdventHealth, has 10 adolescent behavioral health beds and serves only girls. The nearest facility with a broader capacity is at Mission Hospital in Asheville, offering 20 adolescent beds.

Fluech expressed hopes that the new center will enhance safety and overall community health. The facility was developed with a trauma-informed approach, taking into account aspects such as lighting and paint colors.

The center was created in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Vaya Health, and the UNC School of Medicine, supported by a $30 million grant from NCDHHS. Jay Kirby, president and CEO of UNC Health Pardee, stated that families can now rely on this center for specialized care during their youths' behavioral health crises, thereby strengthening the continuum of behavioral health services in Western North Carolina.