Hospital breaks down barriers to mental health

Pictured above: Elko Mayor Reece Keener, County Commissioner Delmo Andreozzi, NNRH Chief Executive Officer Steve Simpson, Elko Police Chief Ty Trouten, and NNRH Chief Nursing Officer Becky Jones

ELKO, Nevada – Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital (NNRH) held a “wall-breaking” ceremony on Wednesday to mark the start of construction on an inpatient behavioral health unit which will be located on the hospital’s third floor. In attendance were local officials, law enforcement personnel, healthcare providers and hospital leaders.

“Today we aren’t just breaking down a physical wall. We’re beginning a project that will remove barriers to care in our community,” said Steve Simpson, the hospital’s chief executive officer. “For many years, patients who’ve needed psychiatric care have been transferred hundreds of miles to facilities out of town. When this remodel is complete and this new unit is open, we’ll be able to provide quality, compassionate care for behavioral health patients right here in Elko.”

Simpson described how NNRH is partnering with Lifepoint Behavioral Health to manage and staff the new unit. As a leading company in the behavioral health space with 24 inpatient facilities across the country, Lifepoint Behavioral Health brings a wealth of experience to the project, he stated.

“We’re extremely grateful to have their guidance and support. It’s like everything has finally aligned to bring inpatient behavioral services to Elko,” said Simpson.

Construction is scheduled to take four months, meaning the new behavioral health unit could open as early as October. According to construction plans, the 7,440 square-foot unit will house 16 patient beds, two group therapy rooms, two consultation rooms, and an area for patients to receive visitors.

“We truly want this to be an environment that fosters healing for the mind, spirit and body,” said Becky Jones, chief nursing officer at NNRH. “Every detail from the flooring, to the furniture, to the light fixtures has been selected with our patients’ safety and well-being in mind. We’re thrilled to see it all take shape over the next few months,” Jones stated.

Elko County Commissioner Delmo Andreozzi shared Jones’ enthusiasm. “I’m excited on behalf of our community. This really is a monumental step for us to help people who are suffering,” said Andreozzi, who serves as the county commission’s representative to the hospital’s board of trustees.

“I think about all the patients that we’ve had to fly out of here. When they’re receiving treatment hundreds of miles away, it’s very difficult for them and their families. Having this facility here to provide this level of service for our community is a tremendous thing,” Andreozzi stated.

Another elected official in attendance at Wednesday’s ceremony was City of Elko Mayor Reece Keener. In 2022, the city allocated $500,000 of federal grant money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to help NNRH establish an inpatient behavioral health unit. The mayor referenced those funds during his remarks.

“It’s wonderful that the city had the ARPA funding. We saw the need for behavioral health services throughout the community, and we’ve dedicated just shy of $4 million to various agencies. NNRH was one of the worthy candidates that was able to benefit from that,” Keener explained.

The mayor also emphasized the importance of caring for behavioral health patients close to home. “You think of folks that are in behavioral crisis and they’re probably some of the most vulnerable patients that you’ll encounter in healthcare. So, it’s important that we’re able to take good care of them,” Keener concluded.

Hospital CEO Simpson thanked the City of Elko for the grant funding and praised local leaders for their commitment to addressing mental health challenges throughout the region.

“This really is a partnership. We would not be here today if it wasn’t for the support of our city and county governments, along with law enforcement,” Simpson stated. “And it’s going to take all of us working together to tackle the mental health crisis in our community. We’ve been siloed and isolated for too long. But I’m confident this behavioral health unit is going to help us break down those walls.”

About Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital

Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital is the only acute-care hospital in a 125-mile radius. Serving the residents of five counties, NNRH provides a wide range of inpatient, outpatient and emergency services. The hospital features 75 all-private acute care rooms and an adjacent medical office building. Fully accredited by The Joint Commission, the hospital is also recognized by the American College of Cardiology as an accredited chest pain center. With over 100 affiliated medical providers and over 300 nurses and support staff, NNRH provides high-quality care to the residents of northeastern Nevada and beyond.

About Lifepoint Behavioral Health

Lifepoint Behavioral Health specializes in providing compassionate care across the behavioral healthcare continuum. Through its 24 behavioral health hospitals and contract management and joint venture partnerships with hospitals and providers across the country, Lifepoint Behavioral Health offers programs designed to address the unique needs of various patient populations, including adolescents, adults and geriatrics. Lifepoint Behavioral Health has diversified programming, allowing specific therapy models of treatment while encompassing the whole person. These treatment models provide evidence-based therapies with distinct short- and long-term goals of improving and sustaining mental health. Lifepoint Behavioral Health is a business unit of Brentwood, Tennessee-based Lifepoint Health.