By Lydia Carrico, Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Apr. 13--Owensboro Mercy Health System has ended its relationship with St. Mary's Mulberry Center based in Evansville and now owns all of its inpatient and outpatient behavioral health services.
'The hospital felt like at this point it is ready to make a move on its own,' said Lorena Ard, director of Behavioral Health, formerly under contract through Mulberry. 'I think it will work well. I'm real pleased.'
No changes were made to the staff or services after the split, effective April 1, Ard said.
OMHS Behavioral Health Services offers an inpatient mental health unit that provides short-term acute care for voluntary and involuntary patients who need stabilization. Its addiction unit serves people who need help with drug and alcohol addiction, including detoxification and intensive outpatient therapy. It also treats marriage and family problems and offers employee assistance programs.
The Behavioral Health Outpatient Counseling, an arm of Behavioral Health Services, is at 2211 Mayfair Ave. but will be moving to the Breckenridge Medical Plaza on the OMHS campus.
Ard said the five-year contract OMHS and Mulberry had was up in March. Both partners had been discussing whether to renew the contract for about six months, she said.
Behavioral health services typically do not generate much profit, said Bill Price, senior vice president of finances with OMHS. Mulberry, which provided the outpatient therapies, discontinued their services due to losses, he said.
'We wanted to continue the program,' Price said. 'There is a great need in our community for behavioral health services, and we hope to gain efficiency in the operation.'
OMHS will be expanding its services this summer to offer a fibromyalgia clinic, special therapies, including healing touch and an additional psychologist, Ard said.
'We're always looking for what the community needs are in the future,' Ard said.
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(c) 2001, Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
