Pine Rest opens adult foster care COVID-19 unit – MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services has opened a 10-bed unit for people living in and adult foster care home and have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The behavioral health care provider says the unit addresses a gap in care and treats both psychiatric and COVID-19 concerns. The unit was created in partnership with the state of Michigan, and comes online at time when coronavirus cases in Michigan are surging.

The special unit features a negative air pressure system to limit the spread of COVID-19, according to a news release from Pine Rest. Thats in addition to enhanced employee training, specialized cleaning protocols, and use of personal protective equipment, Pine Rest said.

Throughout our 111-year history, Pine Rest has brought hope and healing to those most in need of care, Pine Rest President and CEO Mark Eastburg said in a statement.

We are rooted in West Michigan and accountable to the many individuals who turn to us for care and support. This commitment drives development of programs tailored to meet the needs most acutely felt in our community. I am proud Pine Rest has continued this tradition by first opening our inpatient Special Care Unit in December, and now, by opening our residential AFC Special Care Unit.

Pine Rest says its 30-bed COVID-19 special care unit opened in December 2020, and has been operating at or near capacity since that time. Pine Rest says patient referrals for space within the unit have come from across the state.

Our mission is to create a service network for Michigan residents who need behavioral health care particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, Allen Jansen, deputy director of the Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Administration within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement.

After growing evidence that this need could be better met, we reached out to a number of providers and are appreciative that Pine Rest responded to our request. They prioritized space and resources to address this clinical need. This service is urgently needed and will be well-used for a very vulnerable group of our residents.

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Pine Rest opens adult foster care COVID-19 unit - MLive.com