BERLIN – A new behavioral health crisis center at Atlantic General Hospital is expected to better serve community members with acute mental health illness and substance use disorders.
On Wednesday, Atlantic General Hospital (AGH) and its partnering agencies announced the opening of Worcester County’s first walk-in Behavioral Health Crisis Center.
Beginning Jan. 31, the center will offer care to adults and pediatric patients ages five and older who are in urgent need of behavioral health intervention.
“The intention of this regional collaboration is to increase access to crisis intervention and behavioral health services sooner while diverting individuals in crisis to a more effective, lower and less costly level of care,” said Greg Shockley, chair of the AGH Board of Trustees.
Officials say the center is part of a larger regional effort to reduce barriers to behavioral health care.
Utilizing an $11 million grant through the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC), Atlantic General, TidalHealth Peninsula Regional and more than a dozen community agencies have partnered together to form the Tri-County Behavioral Health Engagement (TRIBE).
“TRIBE is one of three partnerships between hospitals and community groups in the state that was awarded funding to invest in behavioral health crisis services,” said Megan Renfrew, associate director of external affairs for HSCRC. “The opening of this crisis center is a major milestone in that effort. The announcement today is a clear success story demonstrating how coalitions like TRIBE are key to building and delivering coordinated, high quality care for patients.”