Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital celebrates grand opening

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee and Tulalip Tribes Chairwoman Marie Zackuse cut the ribbon at the Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital grand opening.

By Kalvin Valdillez, Tulalip News 

“When you think about the heart and soul of Washington, what we do is we get better,” stated Washington State Governor, Jay Inslee. “We build better jets every couple years, we build better software every couple years. Isn’t it a joy to know that hundreds of Washingtonians are going to get better because of the Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital? What a joy to celebrate that effort and to know that these folks are going to get better.”

Hundreds of Snohomish County community members recently celebrated the grand opening of the new 70,000 square-foot behavioral hospital on July 13. The 115-bed psychiatric and addiction center will provide both inpatient and outpatient care for children, teens, adults as well as elders; and will offer specialized programs for the youth, women and veterans of the community who are in need of mental health care. Operated by US HealthVest, a behavioral healthcare company that runs multiple behavioral hospitals nationwide, the Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital aims to provide care to individuals suffering with mental disorders as well as to those battling drug addictions.

“This facility fulfills an incredible need in the state of Washington,” Governor Inslee continued. “We have not had the capacity, not even close to the capacity, to provide for the mental health of our citizens and this plugs an enormous gap in this community. The effort of this company to work with others including the Tulalip Nation, who I understand has a contract with this facility, what a beautiful partnership.”

The behavioral hospital is working with local tribes to offer culture-based healing for the Native American community. The hospital also features Native American artwork and incorporates traditional teachings for tribal members receiving care.

“I want to offer my congratulations on behalf of our elders, our youth and community at large for building a facility that was a need like twenty years ago,” expressed Tulalip Tribes Chairwoman, Marie Zackuse. “I want to thank Dr. Richard Kresch and US HealthVest for the work they have done these past five years, to build and now manage this facility. Your staff has worked with ours, and the Tulalip Tribes look forward to a strong and supportive relationship.”

“Thank you to Misty Napeahi, our Tulalip Tribes General Manager, for helping build a relationship between our Tribe and the Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital, it will help ensure Tulalip tribal members and other Native Americans in this area have access to the care they need,” said Marie.

Community members had the opportunity to tour the two-story facility during the grand opening celebration. The hospital features a recreational room with board games, coloring books and fitness equipment such as yoga mats and stability balls. The hospital also utilizes uplifting colors throughout the building and each patient room is free of any sharp edges and hooks, creating a safe environment for patients to grow and heal.

“We have been talking a lot recently about healthy communities,” Marie stated. “Working together as community partners to identify the needs of our people was a critical first step. The essential services in acute behavioral health care and addiction treatment are necessary if we want to heal our communities. Again, I just lift my hands to each and every one of you who helped this dream come alive.”

For further information, please contact the Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital at (844) 202-5555 or visit their website www.SmokeyPointBehavioralHospital.com

US HealthVest breaks ground on new Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital

New hospital fills unmet need for behavioral health in Snohomish County and beyond

 

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Speakers and attendees at the ceremony included: Mayor Jon Nehring of the City of Marysville; Dr. Richard Kresch of US HealthVest; John Nowoj of Mortenson Construction; Jesica Stickles of the Marysville/Tulalip Chamber of Commerce; Teri Gobin of the Tulalip Tribe; Misty Napeahi of the Tulalip Tribe; and Lisa Utter of NAMI Snohomish. Photo/Mortenson Construction

 

 MARYSVILLE, Wash. – (July 26, 2016) –US HealthVest and construction services firm, Mortenson Construction, broke ground today on the Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital at 3955 156th Street Northeast in Marysville. The new 115-bed hospital will provide a full continuum of behavioral health and addiction treatment—including inpatient and day-hospital services—to children, adolescents and adults.

With this new hospital, US HealthVest can extend much-needed services to patients north of Seattle, where communities are experiencing rapid population growth and a heightened need for behavioral healthcare. Specialty programs at Smokey Point will be tailored to the women’s population, patients with co-occurring disorders, the Native American population, veterans, youth, the senior adult population and faith-based groups.

 

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Photo/Mortenson Construction

 

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy found that Washington has one of the highest prevalence rates for adults with mental health disorders in the country, yet ranked nearly last among all states in the total number of psychiatric beds available per person. Additionally, nearly all hospitals providing adult psychiatric care in Washington had daily occupancy rates exceeding 80 percent compared to 64 percent in community hospitals in   the US; 24 percent of Washington adults met criteria indicating a mental health disorder – the third-highest rate of all states; and approximately 7 percent met further criteria for a serious mental illness that interfered with daily life — ranking Washington No. 2 in the nation.

 

Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital rendering. Photo/CollinsWoerman
Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital rendering. Photo/CollinsWoerman

 

The two-story, 71,000-square-foot building was designed by Seattle-based architecture firm CollinsWoerman and will offer semi-private patient rooms, an outpatient clinic and support space including a pharmacy and food service administration. There will also be indoor and outdoor recreational activity areas. Mortenson anticipates the hospital will be completed in summer 2017.