Rex Hospital in Raleigh, N.C., received $2.5 million from an anonymous donor to fund a behavioral health zone inside its emergency room, according to The News & Observer.
Rex patients with behavioral health issues wait an average of 30 hours — though some wait longer than a week — for an available space at a psychiatric hospital, according to the report. Rex admits an average of four behavioral health patients each day, which sets it to log nearly 1,200 psychiatric patients this year. That marks an 11 percent increase from 2016.
The behavioral health facility allows patients to be quickly moved from the ER and into one of eight sunlit, private rooms until space becomes available at a psychiatric hospital or are stabilized enough to leave the hospital. Features include durable metal soap dispensers, airtight paper towel dispensers that won't burn if deliberately set on fire, 24-hour video surveillance, chairs weighted with metal plates to discourage patients from flinging them, and a common area for socializing and relaxing.
The facility is the first of its type in the state, although several other hospitals are planning their own, said Jennifer Sollami, emergency department manager at Rex Hospital.
The facility is anticipated to be ready for patients this month.