Historical December 1985 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
A new partial hospitalization program for psychiatric/stress-related problems has just opened at Behavioral Health Systems, Inc., in DeBaliviere Place.
A partial hospitalization treatment program for chemical dependency has been in operation since the facility opened in August, and a program for weight control is scheduled to begin in March 1986. William W. Clendenin, M.D., president and medical director of Behavioral Health Systems, has been a Central West End resident for eleven years. Commenting on the non-hospital-based approach, he said, “Partial hospitalization treatment is a relatively new concept which is one response to the rising costs of health care.
It provides intensive treatment but does not require patients to remain overnight, so the savings in cost and convenience are significant. Research studies indicate that there are also significant therapeutic benefits in leaving patients in their natural environment, rather than the protected hospital setting, during treatment.” Clendenin said, “Prospective patients at Behavioral Health Systems are carefully screened.
We do, at times, hospitalize patients at area hospitals, but many people with stress-related or chemical dependency problems really do not require hospitalization.
Yet they need more intensive and comprehensive care than traditional outpatient programs provide.
Our programs provide more actual therapy and’treatment hours than most inpatient programs which take twice as much time.” Treatment programs at Behavioral Health Systems begin with a period of allday therapy and education (twelve days in the stress-related treatment and fourteen days for chemical dependency), after which treatment continues in weekly evening sessions.
The programs operate seven days a week, so that patients can return to work after two weeks.
Most participants in the programs are referred by physicians, clergy, corporate Employee Assistance Programs, or other social service agencies, but self-referrals are evaluated also and assigned an attending physician if they are admitted to a program. Family participation is encouraged in all treatment programs.
The facility will shortly expand to include some adjacent space which will house a full-service health club to be available to patients during and after they complete the scheduled treatment programs. Clendenin emphasized that Behavioral Health Systems’ programs are “designed to teach patients the skills necessary to enable them not only to deal with their immediate symptoms, but also to bring about long-term changes in lifestyle that will result in healthier, richer lives and more satisfying relationships with other people.” In addition to the structured treatment programs, Behavioral Health Systems provides a variety of mental health services, including counseling and assessments, and offers to the community periodic no-cost seminars on subjects of current medical interest.
In addition to Clendenin, who is a psychiatrist with fifteen years’ experience in the treatment of chemical dependency, stress, and other psychiatric problems, Behavioral Health Systems is staffed by accredited and/or licensed masters’ level counselors, a registered occupational therapist, a certified therapeutic recreation specialist, a pastoral counselor, and consultants from other disciplines. Barbara Hoelzer is director of clinical services; Ruth Bebermeyer is director of administrative services. Behavioral Health Systems participates in a pilot project which affords program-specific accreditation by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospitals.
The 4,000 square foot facility currently in use, at 5615 Pershing, was renovated by Behavioral Health Systems by Wischmeyer Architects, with interior design by LVK Associates.
It is completely un-hospital like in appearance.
The only reminders of its previous life as a foreign car repair shop are several slanted floor areas that once were ramps. Clendenin said that he and his staff welcome neighborhood residents to tour the facility and learn more about the services there.
A visit can be arranged by calling 361-4421.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, December 1985.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1985_12.pdf, printed page(s) 9; PDF page(s) 9.
