Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital to Open Area’s First Psychiatric Medical Care Unit on
March 3, 2020
Dover, NJ (February 24, 2020) – Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital will offer one of the area’s only specialized, voluntary inpatient units for those with psychiatric disorders who are currently experiencing a need for hospitalized medical care. The unit is scheduled to open March 3, 2020.
The Psychiatric Medical Care Unit is a brand new state-of-the-art inpatient psychiatric unit designed to meet the specialized needs of individuals with co-occurring psychiatric, substance and medical conditions.
“The Psychiatric Medical Care Unit opening at Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital is unique and does not exist within many medical and psychiatric facilities in the area,” explained Brian Finestein, CEO, Saint Clare’s Health. “Patients will receive the highest level of psychiatric and medical care on the same unit. In many situations, the unit can reduce the inconvenience of patients having to be transferred back and forth between units, or even facilities, for medical and psychiatric care.”
Patients can be referred directly from inpatient medical units or external facilities through our Central Evaluation and Referral Department or those that present to any emergency department or psychiatric emergency services department if experiencing a behavioral health crisis and have a co-occurring medical condition. All patients presenting through the emergency department will be assessed by medical and psychiatric professionals and referred seamlessly to the psychiatric medical care unit when appropriate.
“We are excited to be able to offer this service to our communities,” stated Jan Bednar, CNO, Saint Clare’s Health. “Saint Clare’s Health offers a vast array of inpatient, outpatient and emergency behavioral health services that are utilized by residents in Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties, and beyond. The Psychiatric Medical Care Unit at Saint Clare’s Dover Hospital offers our patients another level of service that takes into account their total health – psychiatric and medical.”
Criteria for Admission
Patients admitted to this unit need to meet the following criteria:
- Must be over 18 years of age, be able to sign consent for treatment, and demonstrate a willingness to engage in the necessary treatment options designed by the medical team.
- Diagnosed with a mental health condition and demonstrate behavior that will prevent the patient from healing if they do not receive immediate medical treatment.
- Additional acute medical care is needed but the patient is unable to be safely treated on a typical hospital medical unit due to suicide or other behavioral issues, or another service is not appropriate or available to meet the patient’s medical health care needs.
- Patients who come to the hospital with intoxication or substance use/abuse disorders who have a co-occurring primary psychiatric disorder or are presenting in an acute behavioral crisis, can be admitted to the unit to receive treatment for their co-occurring disorder and detoxification needs in a safe and supportive environment.
Patients will be admitted with a primary acute need for inpatient behavioral health treatment for conditions such as:
- Acute behavioral crisis
- Bipolar disorders
- Major depression
- Mood disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Suicide thoughts and behaviors
Co-occurring conditions may include:
- Acute/ chronic renal failure
- Benign, prostatic hyperplasia
- COPD/ asthma/ respiratory illnesses
- Continuous oxygen use
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s
- Hemodialysis
- IV therapy
- Simple and complex diabetes mellitus
- Physical/occupational therapy
- Withdrawal from alcohol and substance abuse
- Wound care/ wound vacs
The examples listed above are not intended to be all-inclusive. Other conditions may apply.
For more information or to refer a patient for admission, call 973-316-1950.