MDH Receives Geriatric Psych Approval

Macomb—McDonough District Hospital received official approval July 14 from the Illinois Health Facilities and Service Review Board to complete a 12-bed Geriatric Psych Unit for seniors on the second floor of the new emergency services expansion.

The new unit is scheduled to open July 1, 2015 and will provide inpatient Psychiatric services for individuals above the age of 64. The primary service area for the proposed project is a 40-mile radius surrounding the hospital which has a total population of 41,716 individuals above the age of 64, based upon the 2010 Census.

There are currently no hospitals in the proposed primary service area which offer any inpatient psychiatric services. In discussions with the senior citizens groups, the nursing home providers and the psychiatrists in the area, the need for Geriatric Psychiatric Services was determined to be an area of need which was not being met with existing services.

“By establishing the proposed service at MDH it will be possible for patients from the service area to more easily access the needed Geriatric Psychiatric services,” said MDH CEO/President Kenny Boyd.

The hospital has contracted with Horizon Health to manage the unit. Horizon Health is a national provider of Acute Mental Illness (AMI) services and will be able to assist in the recruitment and training of the staff for the proposed unit.