HEALTH & FITNESS Mercy plans behavioral health hospital

Mercy Health – Youngstown and Lifepoint Behavioral Health, a business unit of Lifepoint Health, announced in late January that they have entered into a joint venture partnership to build and operate a new inpatient behavioral health hospital in the Mahoning Valley.

The Mercy Health Behavioral Hospital will be a 75,000 square-foot 72-bed hospital, providing inpatient services for adults struggling with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, substance use disorder and other mental health illnesses.

This new facility will be structurally designed to create a therapeutic environment for patients. Amenities will include spacious patient rooms, community areas, outside courtyards, and state-of-the-art clinical spaces to support the needs of patients and families.

The Mercy Health Behavioral Hospital will be a 75,000 square-foot 72-bed hospital, providing inpatient services for adults struggling with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, substance use disorder and other mental health illnesses.

Lifepoint Behavioral Health will manage the day-to-day operations of the inpatient behavioral health hospital.

“We are excited to grow our partnership with Lifepoint Health through its behavioral health division as we again expand access to high-quality acute specialty care for our patients throughout the Mahoning Valley,” said John Luellen, MD, market president of Mercy Health – Lorain and Youngstown. “This hospital will broaden Mercy Health’s ability to provide much-needed inpatient behavioral health care and help us further our mission of bringing good help to those in need.”

Mercy Health and Lifepoint Rehabilitation, another business unit of Lifepoint Health, announced a separate joint venture partnership last May to construct Mercy Health Rehabilitation Hospital, a standalone, 60-bed acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital.

This hospital will treat patients who suffer from stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, complex neurological disorders, orthopedic conditions, multiple trauma, amputation and other injuries or disorders that have impacted a patient’s functional or cognitive skills. Both hospitals will be located in the Mahoning Valley. Construction for Mercy Health Rehabilitation Hospital is expected to begin in the spring of 2023 with an expected opening in the summer of 2024.

Construction for Mercy Health Behavioral Hospital is expected to begin in the summer of 2023 with an expected opening in late 2024.

“We are pleased to expand our partnership with Mercy Health, a leading healthcare system, as we look ahead to this behavioral health facility in the Mahoning Valley,” said Russ Bailey, president of Lifepoint Behavioral Health and Lifepoint Rehabilitation. “We know that in opening and operating this behavioral health hospital with Mercy Health we have a partner equally committed to our mission of making communities healthier as we ensure that Youngstown-area residents have better access to high-quality, behavioral health care.”

Upon completion, Mercy Health Behavioral Hospital will be Lifepoint Behavioral Health’s sixth joint-venture, standalone behavioral health hospital nationally and first in the state of Ohio.

Mercy Health will host a series of walk-in hiring events across the Mahoning Valley in February. Applicants can meet with hiring managers in various departments, interview and learn more about Mercy Health job opportunities, with the possibility of on-the-spot job offers.

Mercy Health is currently hiring for roles in nursing, nursing support, lab services, home and hospice care, imaging, respiratory, pharmacy, surgical services, sterile processing, in addition to other positions.

No appointment is necessary and walk-in applicants are wel- come. Candidates should bring multiple copies of their resume and be prepared to interview.

Locations and dates n St. Elizabeth Youngstown, 1044 Belmont Ave., Youngstown. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1. n St. Elizabeth Boardman, 8400 Market St., Boardman. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 8. n St. Joseph Warren 667 Eastland Ave., Warren. 11 a.m.- n St. Elizabeth Youngstown, 1044 Belmont Ave., Youngstown. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 22. Potential candidates can direct questions to Kathryn Heffron at kheffron@mercy.com.

4 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15.

The Wine Guy shares his spring pick: 15

An upcoming Penn State Extension webinar, titled “Stigma and Substance Use,” will focus on how stigma impacts recovery and ways to reduce stigma by using evidence-based strategies.

The webinar will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, and is designed for the public and anyone with a connection to someone who is living with an addiction or in recovery.

The session is aimed at reducing the stigma associated with substance use and substance-use disorder.

The webinar will begin with a socio-historical explanation of stigma. Next, participants will learn how stigma creates barriers to recovery readiness. Instructors then will discuss numerous evidence-based stigma-reduction strategies for use in personal and professional situations.

The webinar will cover: n The roots of and thought processes related to stigma. n How stigma impacts recovery. n Skills that reduce stigma and support recovery.

Penn State Extension offers this webinar free of charge, but registration by 12:45 p.m. Feb. 7 is required to receive the link to access the webinar. Registrants also will receive access to the webinar recording. More information is available on the Penn State Extension website at extension. psu.edu/stigma-and-substance-use.

n Blood Drive by Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross. Poland Library, 311 S. Main St. 44514. 330-744-8636. www.libraryvisit.org. 10 a.m. -4 p.m., Friday Feb., 3.

n Blood Drive by Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross. Austintown Library, 600 S. Raccoon Road 44515. 330744-8636. www.libraryvisit.org. 10 a.m.4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4.

n Blood Drive by Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross. Poland Library, 311 S. Main St. 44514. 330-744-8636. www.libraryvisit.org. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21.

n Blood Drive by Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross. Austintown Library, 600 S. Raccoon Road 44515. 330744-8636. www.libraryvisit.org. 11 a.m.5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 28.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran launched Comprehensive Maternal Care in January. This community-based, statewide program is aimed at improving the health and well-being of moms, infants, and families covered by Medicaid.

The initiative was announced last September as part of DeWine’s “Bold Beginning: Healthy, Supported Families.”

“Giving all Ohioans the best possible start at life truly begins before a child is even born and that means ensuring the child’s family has access to the resources they need,” said DeWine.

Comprehensive Maternal Care creates a framework for providers and community partners to work together to develop person-centered, customized interventions to support women and families who’ve historically lacked ready access to high-quality responsive care before and after pregnancy.

To participate, obstetrical practices are required to measure and engage with patients and families through advisory councils or other means to hear firsthand accounts of how access to care, cultural competence, and communication methods affect patient outcomes. Practices must use patient input to improve the patient experience and reduce disparities. They also must consider and link patients to resources that address broader factors of health, such as housing, food instability, and transportation. Additional criteria for participation include: n Using the Pregnancy Risk Assessment to quickly identify women in need of a first prenatal appointment and ensure timely access appointments and services. n Engaging community supports and evaluating the mother’s and family’s experiences throughout treatment. n Ensuring patient involvement and care continuity with their providers. n Formally assessing practice strengths and patient needs annually to ensure resources, and best practices available are employed and achieving healthier outcomes.

Ohio Medicaid estimates investing $5 million in the initiative by the end of its first year, reaching over 14,000 pregnant and postpartum patients and enrolling 77 medical practices that are currently caring for pregnant and postpartum patients.

For more information, visit: https:// medicaid.ohio.gov/families-and-individuals/citizen-programs-and-initiatives/ maternal-and-infant-support/maternal-and-infant-support.

Saturday February 25, 2023 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.

If you’d like to bake or want to register, visit mahoninghistory.org or contact Linda at 330-743-2589, ext. 125