MetroHealth, University Hospitals Partner to Increase Access to Behavioral Health Care Services
The MetroHealth System and University Hospitals are proud to announce a provider agreement that will allow more individuals to receive timely behavioral health care in Northeast Ohio.
As part of the agreement, UH clinicians will help provide care at the new MetroHealth Cleveland Heights Behavioral Health Hospital, which opened to patients last fall. These physicians will work alongside MetroHealth’s team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, mental health counselors and other caregivers. As part of MetroHealth’s care team, these UH providers will play an integral role in helping address the mental health crisis facing the community.
“Our Cleveland Heights Behavioral Health Hospital is a critical community asset, and we are thrilled to partner with University Hospitals to ensure more people get the help they so desperately need as quickly as possible,” said MetroHealth President & CEO Airica Steed, Ed.D, RN, MBA, FACHE. “If we truly want to impact health equity and improve access for the individuals who need us most, we must continue to pursue innovative partnerships like this. I continue to be energized by the spirit of collaboration and shared commitment among Northeast Ohio health systems to building a healthier community.”
“There is great demand in our community for behavioral health services, and we are proud to work with MetroHealth to help fulfill this essential need for Northeast Ohio,” said Cliff Megerian, MD, FACS, UH Chief Executive Officer, Jane and Henry Meyer Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair. “The need has grown even more acute in recent years due to greater isolation during the pandemic, the prevalence of fentanyl and other pressures on society. By combining forces with MetroHealth, we can make a difference for those patients and families seeking help.”
Like virtually all sectors of the economy, health systems are not immune to workforce challenges. Even well before the pandemic, the United States faced a critical shortage of psychiatrists and behavioral health professionals. That need has only deepened as the demand for behavioral health services surged amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The October 2022 opening of MetroHealth’s $42 million facility, which is located at 10 Severance Circle in Cleveland Heights, is believed to be the largest investment in behavioral health in Northeast Ohio in at least 30 years. The hospital offers inpatient and outpatient treatment for conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, addiction, mood disorders and dual diagnosis (those dealing with both a mental illness and substance abuse).
To learn more about MetroHealth’s Behavioral Health services, visit metrohealth.org/behavioral-health-services.
Founded in 1837, MetroHealth is leading the way to a healthier you and a healthier community through service, teaching, discovery, and teamwork. Cuyahoga County’s public, safety-net hospital system, MetroHealth meets people where they are, providing care through four hospitals, four emergency departments, and more than 20 health centers and 40 additional sites. Each day, our 8,000 employees focus on providing our community with equitable health care–through patient-focused research, access to care, and support services–that seeks to eradicate health disparities rooted in systematic barriers. For more information, visit metrohealth.org.
About University Hospitals
Founded in 1866, University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of 21 hospitals (including five joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices in 16 counties throughout northern Ohio. The system’s flagship quaternary care, academic medical center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Oxford University, the Technion Israel Institute of Technology and . National Taiwan University College of Medicine. The main campus also includes the UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. UH is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research programs in the nation, with more than 3,000 active clinical trials and research studies underway. UH Cleveland Medical Center is perennially among the highest performers in national ranking surveys, including “America’s Best Hospitals” from U.S. News & World Report. UH is also home to 19 Clinical Care Delivery and Research Institutes. UH is one of the largest employers in Northeast Ohio with more than 30,000 employees. Follow UH on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. For more information, visit UHhospitals.org.
