College Station breaks ground on psychiatric hospital

[TexasTowelie]

Local experts said Tuesday they are excited about the advent of a psychiatric hospital that will provide a much-needed mental health resource for the community.

Joe Sokal, Texas A&M Health Science Center's regional chair of psychiatry, said that bringing a mental health facility to the area signifies progress.

"I see this as a tremendous success for our community. Mental health care is under-served in Texas, and is particularly under-served in rural areas. This is a quantum leap forward," Sokal said.

The new hospital, owned by Strategic Behavioral Health, is expected to be completed in a year and represents a $12 million investment by the company, according to founder and president Jim Shaheen.

More at http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/article_2759f203-2c9f-5291-a2a2-bf694855695d.html .

[font color=green]The good news: the Brazos Valley area needs this facility and psychiatric medical students at Texas A&M will be able to obtain training.
The bad news: 72 beds barely makes a dent in the population of psycho right-wing extremists in the area. [/font]

[Purveyor]

1. Is it big enough for the 57.1% of Texans that voted republican in the 2012 election? ;) eom

[TexasProgresive]

2. You are one funny Texan!

Thanks for the news. I didn't catch that on KBTX.

[TexasTowelie]

3. Thanks for the compliment.

My sarcastic wit is well honed by years of cynicism and disgust of Republican governors.

The only question I'm pondering is whether my brother or myself will be the first to be admitted.


Take care in maroon hell--after all, it's darker shade of red.

[TexasProgresive]

8. You are welcome!

My advice to you is the Latin phrase: "nil carborundum illegitimi". Loosely translated- "Don't let the bastards grind you down."

I always read your posts. Your fan in upper Brazos county.

[Ilsa]

4. A psychiatric rotation while in medical school

Will be extremely helpful in explaining to students where these patients come from and where they end up because of their diseases. I would think that a medical education would be incomplete without it.

I can't help but wonder if the original plan was to send students to Houston (maybe) for this rotation.

[sonias]

5. Good!

Wish we had lots more coming.

[TexasTowelie]

6. FYI,

my brother works at the Gulf Coast Medical Center (GCMC) in Wharton.

GCMC has a short-term psychiatric unit that currently serves seniors. They recently proposed a project which would allow access to inpatient level of treatment for adults with psychiatric disorders. The performing provider is currently in the planning stages of establishing a 28 patient adult psychiatric unit with 14 inpatient beds being dedicated to the treatment of general psychiatric disorders and 14 inpatient beds being dedicated to the treatment of the military forces and their dependents with the focus being post traumatic stress disorder. Current challenges facing the provider include the lack of adult inpatient psychiatric care within Wharton County and the surrounding rural areas.

My brother (a fifty-year-old Gulf War vet) is concerned since the hospital does nothave any security personnel since the hospital is having financial difficulties (they are closing their OB-GYN unit in a couple of months since it isn't profitable). In the event of a crisis (i.e., riot) he would be called in to help subdue disturbances created by the patients. Needless to say, he isn't looking forward to having to physically disable younger veterans with combat experience and training.

[TexasProgresive]

7. Violence At California's Psychiatric Hospitals

Tell your brother, thanks for his service, both military and civilian. He probably doesn't hear it enough. And, to be careful if those plans go through in Wharton.

Thousands of assaults occur each year at California's state psychiatric hospitals. Last year, a staffer was killed at Napa State Hospital. Employees there demonstrated, demanding greater safety.

http://www.npr.org/series/135540070/violence-at-californias-psychiatric-hospitals