The community's behavioral health services have recently leveled up with the opening of two new specialized care facilities.
The North Nevada Health System is significantly expanding acute inpatient rehabilitation and adult/advanced behavioral health services at its new Northwest Specialist Hospital on Charlands Avenue. Meanwhile, the well-known Health recently celebrated the opening of the famous Crisis Care Center in Galletti Way. Both facilities will significantly expand access to behavioral health and acute rehabilitation services for local residents.
Chris Coldero, a pre-administrator at the North Nevada Damagedical Center, opened in the late January of the Northwest Specialist Hospital, said that while the region's rapid population growth has led to an exponential increase in health care services across the region, Northwest Reno residents still have access to care.
The Northern Nevada Medical Center opened the area's first independent emergency room in the northwest in 2020, and later added independent emergency medical facilities to North Valley, Spain Springs and Damonte Ranch.
“In northwest Reno, we identified shortages in healthcare services and McCarran's independent ER has given us the foothold to meet the needs of the residents of the area,” Cordero said. “As we continue to grow and develop, we have seen that we need to address a wider range of services for different populations.
“The facility gives us the opportunity to expand our two sub-acute services. Currently these units are located at Sparks Hospital, which gives us the opportunity to grow into new spaces in areas where these two great programs are needed.
The building was previously a skilled nursing facility that was open for just a few years before it got dark. Cordero said moving acute rehabilitation and behavioral health services to a new specialty hospital will provide rooms for the growth of much-needed rooms in these two specialized care areas, as well as the opportunity to update and modernize the programs occupying NNMC at Vista Boulevard.
Doctor Tessaha Cooper Behavioral health and acute rehabilitation services currently occupying the sixth floor of Sparks Hospital are evaluating how NNMC can maximize the space reuse, Cordero said.
“We want to reestablish ourselves as a critical care and surgical resource for this community. As we continue to assess the needs of our community, we will soon share our plans,” he said. “Evaluating new service lines and optimizing the current footprint of perioperative services.”
Jenna Thompson, director of NNMC's Med/Surgery and Scute Rehab Nursing, said the new hospital is a major upgrade in terms of the hospital's capabilities from its current facilities. Sparks Hospital only had eight beds available to acute care and behavioral health patients. Many of these spaces have been maximized, and hospital admission and care options have been determined.
“We had to choose who we could acknowledge and when based on availability,” Thompson said. “We were torn apart for these acute medication/surgical beds open for surgical patients who require hospitalization, and for rehabilitation patients who deserve a full stay.
“Going to beds from 8 to 22 means you don't have to make these difficult decisions and you can provide these services in ways we couldn't.”
The Sherland facility has undergone significant renovations to convert from skilled nursing facilities to acute care and behavioral health hospitals. SR Construction was the general contractor who took the lead in the modification work.
Meanwhile, staff are involved in bringing together more than 150 employees, including CNA, RNS, therapists, social workers and case managers, Cordero noted.
The opening of the well-known Crisis Care Center in February was the culmination of a long-standing journey involving multiple stakeholders and local businesses, including Nevada and Washoe County.
The facility typically offers 23 hours of short-term behavioral support and crisis intervention services that help alleviate patient visits to emergency rooms where dedicated mental health support specialists are not staffed.
President and CEO Brian Erling said in a statement that the opening of the Crisis Care Center will enhance its well-known mental health infrastructure through expanded resources and access.
“The well-known Crisis Care Center provides first responders, law enforcement, emergency medical service personnel, firefighters and crisis intervention teams with dedicated, specialized facilities to bring individuals into the 24-hour mental health crisis, ensuring that they receive appropriate care while releasing resources and emergency departments for other critical needs,” Erling said.
Takas Cooper, chairman of the renowned health at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, and psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Nevada, added that residents who are in a crisis that cannot escalate through telephone calls or interactions with local crisis teams, have safe places to stabilise, short-term care.
“The well-known Crisis Care Center offers a comprehensive assessment from an interdisciplinary team of RNS, licensed clinical social workers, family nurses, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners and psychiatrists over the age of 18,” Cooper said. “We provide 23 hours of crisis observation and stabilization to ease immediate distress, connections with community resources such as inpatient psychiatry and detox beds, support from certified peer recovery specialists, and care coordination to ensure a smooth transition to appropriate services.”
Famous vice president of health health Steve Shell added that most patients in crisis care centers are likely to be stabilized within the first 23 hours of hospitalization. Patients who need additional care or intervention can take more time.
“In the 15 years I've been in Reno, this is the project I'm most proud of,” Shell said. “This is an example of what can be achieved when nonprofit public agencies and private companies come together to address the critical healthcare needs of our community.
“We are deeply grateful for many of our community partners for their collaboration and support in creating this much-needed resource for Northern Nevada.”
