DES MOINES, Iowa – Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines has received approval from the Statel to move forward with a new 100-bed behavioral health hospital in Clive.
Construction on the facility, on 114th Street, is expected to begin in April 2019.
“We are very pleased our proposal to construct a behavioral health hospital has been approved, said Sandy Swanson, vice president of planning and strategic development at Mercy. “This decision helps address the growing demand and community need for mental health services closer to home and throughout Iowa. With this approval, we can now move forward with our vision of improving access to mental health services.”
Mercy says the new behavioral health hospital will serve children, adolescents, adults and seniors experiencing acute behavioral health issues. Medical treatment will concentrate on stabilizing patients so they can transition into outpatient care or back into a home environment.
Swanson added, “We want to thank the many supporters and advocates who came forward to help demonstrate the need for improved mental health care services in our state. We look forward to working with community partners to serve more patients and families, as we are committed to serving the overall health needs of our community for generations to come.”
The new hospital will be owned and operated through a joint venture organization created by Mercy and Universal Health Services (UHS), one of the largest health care management companies in the United States.
Mercy planning mental health hospital in Clive, Iowa
By Sue Danielson