Light is shining through new windows as the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center celebrates the unveiling of the Emergency Department’s behavioral health unit. The renovated space provides a comforting environment for patients and addresses overall emergency room overcrowding and wait times. The expansion was made possible thanks to corporate and individual philanthropy.
Giving captured the enthusiasm for the expansion project in a story last spring. Today, the 7,000-square-foot behavioral health unit includes 24 beds, nine bedrooms offering views of the outdoors, a private interview room, and a quiet space.
“The behavioral health unit is beautiful, functional, safe, and healing,” says Judy Smith, chair of the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center Foundation Board of Trustees. “It’s perfect for the staff, and it’s perfect for the patients.”
The Johns Hopkins Medicine hospital in Columbia, Maryland, on average sees 11 patients who need mental health care a day and is the only emergency department in Howard County.
Psychiatry Nurse Manager Kristin Moore underscores the significance of the renovations for patients and staff. The behavioral health unit has items designed for safety, like weighted furniture and access to secured patient phones. The nurses’ station design allows face-to-face interaction but also creates distance between the staff member and patient.
Moore’s team of 22 nurses are all psych-trained — a critical factor in building therapeutic relationships with patients.
“Patients are seeing a psych nurse from start to finish. They are receiving specific care towards their needs,” she says. “My staff is dedicated to patient safety, and that, along with the renovations, have had an incredible impact on our mental health care in Howard County. We are making a difference in the lives of our patients.”
Smith, a resident of Howard County for more than 30 years, shares the value of investing in behavioral health and supporting her neighborhood hospital — it’s one of the reasons why she’s served on the foundation board of trustees since 2022.
“Our hospital is an asset,” says Smith. “I network and meet wonderful people. I get a sense of helping people even though I don’t touch them directly.”
Through all the hard work, from planning to the design phase, Smith acknowledges the rewarding experience to see the behavioral health unit expansion come to fruition.
“I believe when people are in a wonderful environment, both the staff and the patients, it’s better for everybody,” she says. “I want to encourage my community to support and experience all the amazing things I see happening at our hospital.”
Moore is thankful for those who contributed to the behavioral health unit project, which will elevate the patient experience and provide their community with the best resources.
“When people hear psych, they often get scared,” says Moore. “Thank you to donors for being involved. You are making a difference in one of our most vulnerable populations, our patients.”
The expanded behavioral health unit marks a milestone in Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center’s “Together, Let’s Support Our Neighborhood Hospital” initiative. Fundraising continues, including for an emergency observation unit that will provide specialized care for patients.
“We want to be proactive in our community to help people before they are in a health crisis,” Smith says.
Take a virtual tour of the behavioral health unit, guided by Patricia Pugh, DO, medical director of Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center; Andrew Angelino, MD, director of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center and clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral science; and Shafeeq Ahmed, MD, MBA, FACOG, president of Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center.
Topics: Faculty and Staff, Friends of Johns Hopkins Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Howard County Medical Center, Fuel Discovery