Cape Cod Healthcare to close Behavioral Health Services Urgent Care

Closure effective October 1, 2009

Cape Cod Healthcare announced today that it will close its outpatient Urgent Care Service, located at the Psychiatric Center of Cape Cod Hospital, effective, October 1, 2009.

The urgent care program, opened in 2003 to improve access to psychopharmacology services, has evolved to the point where it essentially increases no-show rates for psychiatric appointments and simultaneously increases drug-seeking activities.

“In essence,” said Ed Laroche, Executive Director, CCHC Behavioral Health Services, “this program has unintentionally fragmented the continuity and coordination of good psychiatric care.”

Staff safety has also become a concern. “In essence,” said Ed Laroche, Executive Director, CCHC Behavioral Health Services, “this program has unintentionally fragmented the continuity and coordination of good psychiatric care.”

“People who truly need urgent mental health help will continue to be treated in the emergency department and will become Cape Cod Hospital or Falmouth Hospital patients,” added Laroche.

At the same time, all of CCHC’s Behavioral Health Services outpatient services will be consolidated from the Whitcomb Pavilion on the campus of Cape Cod Hospital to the Cape Cod Human Services facility at 460 West Main Street in Hyannis. “This consolidation allows us to expand access to outpatient behavioral health services and better facilitate placing patients in appropriate settings for behavioral health treatment,” said Laroche. The state Department of Mental Health has reviewed the plan to close urgent care and consolidate outpatient services, and the DMH understands the need for it.

“People who need mental health care will have better access to services and programs at Cape Cod Healthcare,” said Laroche. “We continue to provide a robust array of mental health services for the community, including inpatient, partial hospitalization, outpatient, three locations for Cape Cod Human Services, a Psychiatric Assessment Team, and a Kids and Teens Assessment Center.

Release courtesy of Cape Cod Healthcare.

Cape Cod Healthcare is a comprehensive, regional healthcare system spanning the entire Cape. Cape Cod Healthcare is the leading provider of healthcare services for residents and visitors of Cape Cod. With more than 450 physicians, 4,500 employees and 1,100 volunteers, Cape Cod Healthcare has two-acute care hospitals, the largest home health services agency on the Cape (VNA), a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, an assisted living facility and numerous health programs. For more information, visit Cape Cod Healthcare’s web site at www.capecodhealth.org.