WellSpan Philhaven’s Mt. Gretna campus will be opening an expanded inpatient unit to patients July 22.

5,000 square feet and 15 beds were added to the extended acute unit, which provides for patients with complex mental health needs staying for periods of time up to six months.

The expansion also includes fixtures, furnishings, an activities room, and a combination of private and semi-private rooms. Patients will have freedom to visit the hospital building’s main cafeteria and take walks while in the unit.

Mantha Kotsalos (left), senior director of inpatient services for WellSpan Philhaven, gives a tour to Vicki Daniel, patient experience director at WellSpan Philhaven, of the expanded extended acute unit at WellSpan Philhaven in Mt. Gretna. The two are standing in a patient room, which has state-of-the-art furnishings and fixtures. (Provided photo)

“WellSpan Philhaven is committed to helping meet the needs of patients in our region,” said Phil Hess, senior vice president of WellSpan Health and president of WellSpan Philhaven, in a release. “This state-of-the-art extended acute unit allows us to provide expert care to patients who have the most challenging behavioral health needs.”

Scott Suhring, CEO of Capital Area Behavioral Health Collaborative; Phil Hess, president of WellSpan Philhaven; and Tom Harlow, president of WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital; (from left) talk at the opening of the expanded extended acute unit at WellSpan Philhaven in Mt. Gretna. (Provided photo)

This project is expected to create about 25 jobs at Philhaven.

According to senior director of inpatient services for WellSpan Philhaven Mantha Kotsalos, the unit was expanded to help meet Central Pennsylvania’s growing need for behavioral health care.

This unit’s expansion is part of a $3.4 million Mt. Gretna campus construction project that first began in January of this year. Also included in this project is a new 9,300-square-foot administrative building scheduled to open late 2019 and new offices and conference rooms in the main hospital building.

Emily Bixler was born and raised in Lebanon and now reports on local government. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano and going for hikes.

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