Salem Medical Center Receives NJ Department of Health Approval to Open 26-bed Inpatient Adult Psychiatric Unit

SALEM, NJ — Salem Medical Center is pleased to announce the New Jersey Department of Health has approved the opening of the medical center’s 26-bed adult Psychiatric Inpatient Unit. The Unit is currently accepting patients.

“This expansion of services is part of our commitment to meet community needs – and there is no more important need today than additional behavioral health resources in the area,” said SMC Board of Trustees Chairman William J. Colgan. “This service is crucial for our region and will make a difference for the community of Salem and South Jersey.”

“We have been given the opportunity to usher in this important service so that we can help many residents while keeping them near home in their own community,” said CEO Dr. Tammy Torres. “The opening of the Unit makes an immediate impact on an important need of our community.  Through this new service we are excited to welcome new patients and their families to our medical center.”

The 21,000-square-foot, 26-bed voluntary adult Unit provides treatment services for individuals with mental health conditions. It provides a safe, secure place where individuals with behavioral health issues can receive compassionate treatment to move beyond the immediate crisis.

“While this expansion demonstrates our continued commitment to investing in our community, it also represents a major step forward into our future as a medical center,” said Dr. Torres. “We are committed to helping patients with behavioral issues seek treatment and recover, safely integrating back into society.”

The setting provides a safe, secure place where individuals with behavioral health issues can receive compassionate treatment to move beyond their immediate crisis. The Unit features open and communal space to promote interaction and reduce isolation, and offers areas for group meetings.

Patient-centered behavioral health services will provide comprehensive psychiatric assessment and treatment, one-on-one intervention and psychiatric stabilization/medication management.

The opening of the Unit was highly anticipated by community leaders such as law enforcement, local government officials, and health/behavioral health professionals.

“Adding behavioral health resources to the Salem County area is significant because there is such a great need not only in Salem County, but across the state,” said Dr. Torres. “In 2017, the New Jersey Department of Health put out a call to hospitals to expand behavioral health services. Salem Medical Center was granted 26 beds.”

Inpatient Psychiatric Unit Medical Director Bradford Bobrin, DM, FASAM, and Saida S. Abdul-Aziz, DHA.c, MSN, MBA-HCM, RN, FCN lead a fully supported staff including representation from psychiatry, nursing, mental health therapists, rehabilitation therapists, social work and case management will work to diagnose and treat a wide variety of mental health conditions. These conditions include depression, acute mood and anxiety disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, and co-occurring psychiatric/substance use disorders.

“Inpatient care is the most intensive level of treatment for individuals suffering from behavioral health disorders,” said Dr. Torres. “It offers 24-hour care in a safe and secure environment, making it best for patients who experience an acute episode.”

SMC is also partnering with Legacy Treatment Services to provide outpatient behavioral health services. Legacy operates outpatient care to ensure continuity of care for individuals being discharged from the Inpatient Adult Psychiatric Unit, as well as an outpatient resource to meet the needs of the community.

“Our partnership will allow us to provide an integrated and seamless service modality for patients, meeting both their behavioral and medical treatment needs,” said Roy Leitstein, Legacy CEO. “The leadership of both organizations is committed to working cooperatively and engaging ongoing health care management barriers toward the shared goal of providing high quality, cost-effective medical care for the residents of Salem County.”

Legacy ensures a continuum of integrated care to meet individuals and families at their specific points of need. Legacy Treatment Services is an affiliate of Woods Services.

Since the early 1980s, SMC has served as the county’s designated psychiatric screening site, often the first step when dealing with psychiatric emergencies. The opening of the Salem Medical Center adult Inpatient Psychiatric Unit provides the next step in the continuum of care.