After four decades, the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Behavioral Health Center needed remodeling, and with the generosity of Price Philanthropies and other donors, the facility is revised, creating a better space to meet patient care and safety needs.
The new enhanced design is now welcoming new and existing patients in modernized, comfortable surroundings. Sharp Grossmont Hospital has worked with outpatient and inpatient care for those with mental illness since the 1970s and is the only hospital in East County with a dedicated psychiatric assessment team that treats patients seen in the emergency room.
Grossmont Hospital Foundation Chief Development Officer for the regional hospital Kate Wayne has been with the Foundation for more than six years, and with Sharp 13 years working in healthcare fundraising. An East County resident Wayne said she is proud to work with the community hospital. Wayne said that the Behavioral Center has served as a safety net for its patients when they have nowhere else to turn.
“It is such an important need and is certainly part of Sharp Grossmont’s mission,” she said. “There is a huge need for behavioral health in our community. I think you can see it everywhere you turn. Everybody has a different story whether it is talked about or not. Fortunately, in recent years, there has been light shed on behavioral health and the need for this quality care.”
Wayne said the Foundation is grateful that the community understands the importance of providing high quality behavioral healthcare in the community, and providing a “wonderful, healing environment” for the community.
“The remodel cost $572,893 and it was all funded through philanthropy,” said Wayne. “Price Philanthropies Foundation is one of the premier foundations in San Diego. One of their main areas of focus has been behavioral health. They are an extremely generous family foundation and really started this whole opportunity. Price Philanthropies gave us a $350,000 grant, of which $150,000 of it was a matching grant to encourage other donors to participate as well. Fortunately, they inspired others that wanted to follow in their footsteps. We had 124 donors who gave their support in this important effort.”
Wayne said the new center was designed by Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s facility team and several vendors who did the work.
“The upgrade was creating a healing environment,” said Wayne. “The building is in good condition with good bones. What we did was come in and modernized it.”
Wayne said there were several areas, the largest being in conjunction with ETC Building & Design who philanthropically supported the project and “made our dreams into a reality.”
“We think the healing environment is healthy for both patients, their family members, and our staff and physicians,” said Wayne. “Particularly in behavioral health where patients are being treated and in recovery, it should be a healing, calm environment. In serving behavioral health, we serve an underserved community. There were several things. Making the outdoor setting more comfortable and attractive for patients. To see patients wanting to go outside and play pickleball out on the patio, or play shuffleboard, enjoying the beautiful environment outdoors and sunshine has been lovely to see.”
SGH Behavioral Health Lead Social Worker Candy Elson has been with Sharp for more than 25 years. She said that the approach to behavioral health has had many changes through the past four decades, not all good.
The volume of patients has greatly increased, many changes in antidepressant and antipsychotic medications, length of a patient’s stay is shorter due to high demand.
“There is a big focus on crisis stabilization,” she said. “There is an emphasis on medication management. Helping people get through that crisis, whether that is deep depression, suicidal thoughts, or psychosis. But a common theme remains. In addition to medication management, there is a focus on group therapy, helping people with education about coping skills, or how to live with a chronic mental illness. We have group therapy with process groups, recreational groups, education groups, to ideally give people the tools to cope with life and mental illness.”
Elson said they still use ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) for severe depression, something that once was controversial, but is now a common treatment when medications have been ineffective.
“We have an extensive outpatient program, a program for when people need more than seeing a psychiatrist once a month, and a therapist once a week. It provides the opportunity to come to the hospital three times a week for a half day for treatment,” she said. “They approach patients as a team.”
Elson said a large part of the work is working with the families of patients who are hugely impacted by a mental health diagnosis in the family.
“I think there has been increased recognition of the impact on families,” she said. “We spent a lot of time educating families about what is and what is not possible in terms of involuntary treatment. Unfortunately, sometimes, patients have resistance to taking medications or treatment. That is very hard on the family when it creates a lot of chaos in life.”
Elson said there has been much change in the laws concerning mental health since the 1960s, like people could be checked in indefinitely without any checks or balances but now there are many more laws protecting patient rights. She said these checks and balances are important to have in the system to protect patients.
Elson said the remodel is beautiful, modern, with a lot of light.
“It created a dedicated entrance way for family members and outside professionals, and another entrance for staff,” she said. “There is a reception area, and many times families are in distress. The whole area is a refuge. A quiet place that they can wait for the social worker or talk to the psychiatrist before they go in and see their loved one.”
Elson said it is a much more comfortable and welcoming experience for all and will greatly enhance the care for the patients and staff.
“Our patients and families are almost always in crisis when they come to us,” she said. “So, a physically beautiful environment is so important. I am looking out my window at the new environment where there is beautiful landscaping and a calm environment. It helps to have a calm and safe place. It is all about that. A sense of safety is very important for our patients and family members when everything else is going wrong in their lives. It is a first step to recovery.”
