Ribbon Tying held for SCH’s new Senior Behavioral Health Unit

The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce held a Ribbon Tying for Stephens County Hospital’s new Senior Behavioral Health Department.

Filling in for Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President Julie Paysen, Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce Investor Services and Community Relations person Samantha Rickman welcomed the group to the hospital.

Stephens County Hospital Chief Executive Officer Van Loskoski explained that the hospital has been working on a Senior Behavioral Health Unit since 2017.

“This is an exciting day for us. Several years ago, back in 2017, we started a needs assessment that really identified a need for Behavioral Health Services in our community. That’s not a need relegated just to Stephens County, nationwide we’re experiencing an epidemic. We’re excited to open this unit. We’ll be able to have 12 beds available to offer to inpatient stays to our senior citizens who need behavioral and mental health services,” he said.

He says the new department will offer Behavioral Health services to the senior population of Stephens County and throughout the region.

Stephens County Development Authority President and CEO Brittany Ivey says the unit will attract more industries to Stephens County.

“Every expansion that the hospital does, every service that they extend to the community and surrounding communities helps us recruit industry and retain existing industry in our community because they see the investment the hospital is making in the quality of life for them and their employees, so on behalf of the Development Authority thank you so much to the hospital,” she said.

Stephens County Commissioner Dean Scarborough says the new unit will meet the needs of so many in Stephens County.

The closest Behavioral Health Department, until now, has been in Flowery Branch.

Loskoski says they plan on opening the new Senior Behavioral Health Department to patients in just a few weeks.

For additional information contact Stephens County Hospital by calling 706-282-4200.