February 2, 2023 – At a time of increased need for mental health services, Memorial Outpatient Behavioral Health Center is expanding its space by 40% with a $5 million initial investment by Memorial Healthcare System. The relocation and expansion of over 7,000 sq-ft will offer an additional 10,080 adult mental health and addiction visits—including psychiatry, behavioral health counseling and primary care services. This expansion will also include additional innovative services, all focused on helping patients achieve health and wellness in all areas of their lives.
Over the next year, the Behavioral Health Center, now located at 5595 South University Drive, Davie, FL, will recruit three additional mental health providers, increase psychiatry resident rotations, and pursue additional federal, state and county grant funding. The plan also includes the creation of a teen and young adult program in partnership with Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States. More than 50% of people will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime, and 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in any given year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Dr. Tammy Tucker, PsyD, FACHE, VP of Memorial Behavioral Health with Dr. Andrew Migliaccio, medical director, psychiatry, Memorial Outpatient Behavioral Health and Dr. Claudia Vicencio, PhD, LCSW, LMFT, Director, Outpatient Behavioral Health at the Center’s Grand Opening
“On the heels of the pandemic, we have seen an increase in patients experiencing mental health crises in our community, evident also by an influx of patients into our emergency rooms seeking help,” said Tammy Tucker, PsyD, VP, Memorial Behavioral Health. “The expansion of Memorial’s outpatient behavioral health services is happening just at the right time to respond to the needs of our community and provide a safe space where our mental health professionals can empower even more patients and their families and provide them the tools they need to achieve wellness.”
Memorial’s expansion of outpatient services is taking place at a time when other market challenges are exacerbating access issues, barriers to care and health disparities. Inpatient psychiatric programs are closing in Broward County, and payment for private mental health services are shifting from insurance coverage to out-of-pocket expenses.
“We believe our new Behavioral Health Center will be a beacon of hope for those who need mental health and substance abuse services and will have a tremendous impact on the well-being of our patients, caregivers, families and more,” said Claudia Vicencio, PhD, LCSW, LMFT, Director, Outpatient Behavioral Health. “We are proud to offer this expanded space and services and we want people to know that we are here to help.”
As one of the largest public healthcare systems in the nation, Memorial Healthcare System offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient adult behavioral health and substance abuse services. The multicultural team includes psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, social workers, psychologists, psychotherapists, counselors, and peer support specialists who use their lived experiences and skills learned in training to help others achieve and maintain recovery and wellness. In addition to offering traditional mental health services, Memorial offers unique and renowned adult services and treatments including:
Mothers in Recovery, an award-winning, inpatient and outpatient program for pregnant women who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol to help achieve mother and baby health outcomes.
Rebel’s Drop-In Center, a safe space for adults with behavioral health conditions seeking support and connection. Rebel’s provides free services 365 days a year, including self-help support groups, arts and craft activities, wellness and recreational activities, peer mentoring, and recovery coaching.
Trauma Program for adults who have experienced traumatic events, including: physical and sexual abuse, and other threats to one’s life and/or physical, emotional or spiritual integrity.
Medication-Assisted Treatment evidence-based program for adults struggling with addiction to opioids. Offering comprehensive services, combining the use of opioid agonist medications (buprenorphine/naloxone and naltrexone) with structured group and individual therapy.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to treat adults with complex behavioral health conditions, including borderline personality disorder, suicide attempts and ideation, trauma and multiple mental health diagnoses. The 6-month, structured program includes weekly psychotherapy sessions and skills groups with specially trained clinicians who teach the core concepts of mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness skills.
Mind/Body Wellness Clinic, a primary care clinic, integrated in the Outpatient Behavioral Health Center that provides compassionate, patient- and family-centered care that integrates primary care and behavioral healthcare to meet the complete needs of the patient.
Esketamine Clinic at Memorial. The first certified esketamine treatment center in South Florida to offer SPRAVATO™ for adults who have tried multiple oral antidepressants with little to no relief in their symptoms.
And coming soon, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a noninvasive technological breakthrough that involves applying a series of short magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in areas of the brain known to be associated with major depression. The electromagnet painlessly delivers a magnetic pulse that stimulates nerve cells in the region of your brain involved in mood control and depression. This new technology and treatment has been funded by generous donors through the Memorial Foundation.
About Memorial Outpatient Behavioral Health Center
For more than 30 years, Memorial Outpatient Behavioral Health Center has provided comprehensive adult mental health and addiction treatment—including psychiatry, behavioral health counseling, and primary care services—focused on helping patients develop health and wellness in all areas of their lives. Learn more at https://www.mhs.net/mentalhealth.
