Advocate said it will invest $ 20 million to open a 27-bed inpatient behavioral health unit at its South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, the Chicago Tribune reports.
When completed by the end of 2023, it will also consolidate inpatient behavioral health services from the Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Health system officials said they are taking other steps to integrate mental health services into primary care offices in the southern and southwestern suburbs.
The company said it will move labor and delivery operations in the South Suburban, though prenatal and postpartum services will continue to be available at the Hazel Crest facility.
In a note to staff announcing the changes, South Suburban President Rashard Johnson said Advocate Aurora’s community needs assessment “made it clear that there is a growing need for greater access to mental health services in the southern suburbs.” Read more.
