Clinically innovative and carbon net zero facility will help address the critical need for inpatient behavioral health and addiction treatment beds in the region
Boston Medical Center (BMC) today announced the opening this October of the Brockton Behavioral Health Center, an 82-bed, environmentally sustainable inpatient facility that will help provide much needed treatment beds to serve the Boston and Brockton region.
BMC’s Brockton Behavioral Health Center will have 56 acute inpatient psychiatric beds for patients with mental health needs who are 16 years old and older, and 26 clinical stabilization services beds for patients 18 years and older who are in need of step down treatment for substance use disorder following detox or inpatient care.
The behavioral health center will offer specialized, culturally competent behavioral health services with a leadership and staff that reflects the makeup of the Brockton community. BMC has decades of experience offering community-based behavioral health services. The center will combine BMC’s mental health expertise with the hospital’s addiction treatment models, which have been replicated nationally.
“Boston Medical Center is proud to open this state of the art, environmentally sustainable facility, which reflects the commitment we have to delivering high quality, compassionate care in a therapeutic environment,” said Kate Walsh, President and CEO of Boston Medical Center. “This facility is designed to address the co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder challenges our patients experience through a specialized care model. This new resource would not have been possible without the strong support of our partners in government, the City of Brockton, and the provider community. For patients and their families, this center will provide hope, and begin a new journey toward health and recovery.”
“Our Administration has made significant investments in behavioral health care through our Roadmap for Behavioral Health, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure individuals across the Commonwealth can receive the care they need, when and where they need it,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “As Massachusetts grapples with a behavioral health crisis that was only exacerbated by the pandemic, the Brockton Behavioral Health Center will be an invaluable resource for residents in need of inpatient care. Boston Medical Center knows that behavioral health is just as important as physical health, and I celebrate their commitment to accessible, equitable care.”
“When we put out a call for the development of additional psychiatric inpatient capacity, Boston Medical Center was one of the first hospitals to step up to the plate,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. “Today, we see the fruits of that commitment, as BMC unveils 82 new behavioral health inpatient beds for individuals struggling with mental illness, substance abuse, and co-occurring illnesses. The Brockton Behavioral Health Center will provide comprehensive treatment for some of our most vulnerable residents and will be staffed by a workforce that is reflective of our state’s great diversity. The BMC team truly understands the importance of accessible, compassionate behavioral health treatment, and I am grateful for their consistent partnership and dedication to the whole health of Massachusetts residents.”
“Brockton is a city of caring, resilient, and proud people, and this new facility will be a model for the state as many communities struggle for solutions to the crises of mental health, homelessness, and substance use disorder,” said Brockton Mayor Robert F. Sullivan. “This new health clinic will provide much-needed treatment beds and critical support for Brockton and surrounding communities. We are thankful for the partnership of Boston Medical Center and our partners in state government, including Governor Baker and Lieutenant Governor Polito, and look forward to continuing to partner on innovative projects to improve our city and assist our residents.”
The realization of this project was made possible by MassHealth's incentive program to encourage health care providers to open more behavioral health beds in Massachusetts. The redevelopment of the property was also supported by $12 million in state funding, approved by the Massachusetts Legislature, to supplement a significant portion of the project's capital costs.
The 64,000-square-foot behavioral health center will create 175 new jobs in leadership, clinical and support positions, with 64 percent of the jobs filled by residents of Brockton and surrounding communities.
Through the generosity of an anonymous donor, BMC’s Brockton Behavioral Health Center will be net zero for carbon emissions from energy, with geothermal heating and cooling systems and 700 kilowatts of solar on the rooftop and parking canopies producing 100 percent of the facility’s power needs. The geothermal system is comprised of 14 miles of underground piping, travelling 500 feet deep into the earth. BMC will also be installing a 250 kilowatt battery storage system to further alleviate grid congestion and reduce carbon emissions.
Patients will be referred to the Brockton Behavioral Health Center by other health care providers; walk-ins are not accepted. The average length of stay for inpatient psychiatric patients is expected to be 7 to 10 days, and the average length of stay in crisis stabilization services, a voluntary residential treatment model for people seeking long-term recovery from substance use disorders, is expected to be 12 days. Patients will have a coordinated care plan, including transportation from the facility, upon discharge.