What is a Behavioral Health Campus?
Walking through the halls of Sanford West Behavioral Health Campus, it does not feel like you are in a hospital or institution. It is light and buzzy, with team members conferring in conference rooms and recreational therapists leading groups outside for movement therapy or a breath of fresh air. You may see a therapy dog trotting alongside Sanford Behavioral Health (Sanford) founder Rae Green or catch conversations drifting from the clinical kitchen in the eating disorder facility. The family of an individual checking in for addiction treatment might be meeting the admissions specialist who first answered the phone and allayed their fears. And laughter – you often hear the sound of laughter as Sanford patients begin to feel better and make connections with kindred spirits.
Programs & Services
The ambiance is noninstitutional, but what occurs at Sanford Behavioral Health Campus is evidence-based with a psychiatrist-led multidisciplinary team. We treat different mental health diagnoses across multiple levels of care in one location. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) tells us that more than 20% of American adults experience some form of mental illness each year. At Sanford, most of our clients experience more than one mental health disorder at the same time. Sanford Behavioral Health is prepared with innovative, cost-effective, and proactive programs to rise to the challenge.
Our Programs & Services Include:
- Comprehensive Psychiatric Assessments, including Medical Management
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) & SPRAVATO (esketamine)
- Collaborative Care Teams
- Psychiatrist-Led
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners
- 24/7 Nursing
- Clinical Therapists, Dietitians & Recreational Therapists
- Medical Detox
- Residential Programs
- Day Programs (PHP)
- On-Site Supportive Housing
- Partial-Day Programs (IOP)
- Virtual Programs
- Individual Therapist & One-On-One Counseling
- Group & Family Therapy
- Outpatient Therapy
- Outpatient Psychiatric Follow-Up Care, including Medication Management
- Long-Term Planning
- Free Alumni Programs
- Free Family Education/Support Programs
Sanford West Behavioral Health Campus is on 18 acres, just 15 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.
What is a Behavioral Health Campus?
We sat down with two key members of the Sanford Behavioral Health team to ask them how they define a behavioral health campus. Katie Vokes is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and Wade Stitt, MAC, MS, LPC, is the Clinical Director.
Katie Vokes, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
SBH – What is a behavioral health campus?
Katie Vokes – A behavioral health campus allows us to treat different diagnoses across multiple levels of care under one roof. Mental and behavioral health treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Each patient has specific and individualized needs. At our campus, we can provide access to psychiatry providers, nurses, clinical therapists, recreational therapists, case managers, dieticians, and more. We have everything from sub-acute detox to outpatient eating disorder services. Not only is treatment available at our campus, but many of our services can be provided virtually as well.
SBH – Could you give us an example of treating different diagnoses?
Yes. Let’s say a person comes to Sanford for outpatient therapy because they are struggling with anxiety or depression. After a couple of weeks, a history of substance use rises to the surface, and their therapist recommends a higher level of care. This person is admitted to residential treatment for addiction, but as soon as the substance use is under control, a dormant eating disorder becomes primary (this happens more often than one might imagine). Or perhaps a history of trauma and OCD requires focus.
The huge benefit to becoming a Sanford client is that we can assess and transition an individual during all stages of treatment within the same building, the same location, and with the same psychiatrist and clinical team. Consequently, once someone is part of the Sanford system, no matter what transpires as they go through their lifetime of recovery, they have a powerful alliance. In this example, after higher levels of care, the client can go back to the same outpatient therapist. That therapist can walk down the hallway and talk to the psychiatrist who treated them, eliminating anxiety and gaps in the continuity of care. Even our alumni and family programs are a long-term resource for navigating the behavioral health system.
SBH – How does Sanford’s Behavioral Health Campus fill the gaps in treating mental health conditions?
In general, access to services is limited because of a shortage of mental health professionals, especially in rural areas. Also, many patients who seek inpatient psychiatric services in Michigan don’t meet criteria, but it is unsafe for them to go home. Other individuals may leave inpatient psychiatric care but have a history of substance use or an eating disorder. The beauty of our behavioral health campus is our ability to provide treatment at multiple levels of care.
For example, we might admit someone who has gone through inpatient psychiatric services and doesn’t need residential care. However, they need a day program, an intensive outpatient program, or even outpatient therapy. We work with psychiatric hospitals and primary care providers to “step-down” patients into our care. Virtual programs remove barriers to treatment, and our outpatient therapists are available in person or via telehealth. We can also treat multiple diagnoses with psychiatric care, medication management, and dietary programs.
Clinical Director, Wade Stitt, MAC, MS, LPC
SBH – What is a behavioral health campus?
Wade Stitt – A behavioral health campus is a one-stop shop. It gives us an opportunity to help individuals where they are at any given time. Our programs are not cookie-cutter or predesigned, but about what a person’s needs might be. So we are not saying to everyone, “You have to start in residential treatment and step down to day programs, or we treat a substance use disorder before we treat co-occurring disorders.”
The fact that we have everything here on campus allows us continuity of care. We are able to treat the whole person. From a clinical standpoint, if someone with a substance use disorder starts in detox and goes into residential and steps down to PHP, IOP, and outpatient, we are able to work with them on their treatment goals. But, we can alter and revamp treatment as needed. For example, we have had people start treatment in a mental health program only to determine that a substance use disorder is more prevalent than previously reported. We can do everything right here without causing unnecessary confusion or having to send a client to a different location.
People come to us because they trust us. They may not know what they need, but if they come through our doors, I know we are going to take care of them. If their needs change, we change and tailor the program to fit their needs.
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, eating disorders, or a mental health condition, don’t wait to change your life – click the link below to speak with an admissions specialist about our programs.
