Journal & Topics Media Group

Des Plaines’ Chicago Behavioral Hospital Saw Increase In Patients Amid Pandemic

Staff Working To Get Patients Vaccinated

Chicago Behavioral Hospital in Des Plaines. Journal photo.

Mental health services have become more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Des Plaines’ Chicago Behavioral Hospital has been working to meet the challenge.

“People are having more mental health crises and they are more severe,” explained Danielle Carleton, director of business development for the hospital, located at 555 Wilson Lane near the Des Plaines River. She told the Journal & Topics that, while the number of patients at Chicago Behavioral dipped slightly during the first three months of the pandemic last year, an influx of patients came through its doors during the summer months. Even more patients came through its doors than in pre-pandemic years.

“We’ve continued to hire throughout the pandemic,” said Chicago Behavioral Hospital CEO Jerry Cholewa last Thursday (April 22). Currently, the hospital has 356 employees, including 10 since it opened around seven years ago.

Those staff members serve an average of 130 patients from throughout the Midwest at a given time, though Chicago Behavioral has a 145-bed capacity. When the facility — formerly operated by Maryville Academy — was purchased by U.S. HealthVest in 2014 for $23 million, it had only 77 employees and was struggling financially.

Since the purchase, Chicago Behavioral has also transitioned from a facility that catered to mostly youth and adolescent patients to a mental health resource for adults. According to Carelton, 11 of the 145 beds are set aside for teens.

Most in-patients stay at the hospital for around seven to 10 days, she explained. Patients dealing with suicidal ideation, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance misuse issues, dual diagnoses and more are served by the institution.

There is also a program specifically developed for women — Women’s Connection — who experience mental health issues as a result of trauma, abuse or PTSD as well as a program for older adults and a medical detox program for patients suffering from substance addiction.

In addition to in-patient programs, Chicago Behavioral offers intensive outpatient programs, telehealth options and free mental health assessments to anyone in need of help.

“We provide hope to anyone who is seeking it,” Cholewa said.

To keep its patients safe, the hospital is equipped to test for COVID-19 and is now running a vaccine clinic.

“We were selected by the state of Illinois as a safety net hospital,” said Cholewa. So far, Chicago Behavioral has been able to vaccinate about 50% of its patients, he added.

Carleton and Cholewa said people can support the hospital and its patients by doing anything they can to reduce the stigma around mental health needs and by donating clothing to the hospital.

More information about Chicago Behavioral Hospital is available at www.chicagobehavioralhospital.com.

                                                                                                                                           

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