Tyler, Texas (April 3, 2020) — During this COVID-19 pandemic, UT Health East Texas is quickly changing the way we deliver care to support social distancing where possible. UT Health East Texas is adhering to the Stay-Safe-At-Home initiative which has drastically reduced the number of patient visits, treatments and procedures. Consequently, UT Health East Texas will relocate the inpatient adult behavioral health program currently based at 4101 University Blvd, to our UT Health North Campus Tyler hospital effective April 13, 2020.
The location change to the North Campus for adult services improves access to our psychiatry faculty and residents at the University of Texas Health Science Center, and better allocates specialized clinicians at a single location. Inpatient Child and Adolescent services have been suspended. We are working with those that need inpatient services to identify alternative sites of care. The Adolescent Intensive Outpatient program will be relocated to the UT Health North Campus Tyler.
The Behavioral Health Center (BHC) stopped Child and Adolescent inpatient admissions April 1. All BHC physicians will continue to see patients and remain employed with our health system to maintain access to care for patients of all ages. Our psychiatrists and counselors will continue to see children and adolescent behavioral health patients on an outpatient clinic basis.
Many of the caregivers will transition to the North Campus. As we evaluate how to best support child and adolescent services at the North Campus, some caregivers will be furloughed. There will be no change in the availability of emergency medical or behavioral health resources at our UT Health East Texas hospitals.
This decision was not made lightly, and represents the proactive work we must do to manage effectively through this pandemic. The progressive underfunding of behavioral health services was a significant factor in this difficult decision. Additionally, in the event of a surge in COVID-19 patients needing isolation, the BHC space is being evaluated as alternative space for treating these patients.
For questions about our behavioral health services, please contact us at 1-903-877-7000, or access our website at www.uthealtheasttexas.com and click the link on Behavioral Health for frequently asked questions and additional information.
About UT Health East Texas
UT Health East Texas provides care to thousands of patients each year through an extensive regional network that includes 10 hospitals, more than 50 clinics, the Olympic Plaza Tower, 13 regional rehabilitation facilities, two freestanding emergency centers, regional home health services covering 41 counties, an EMS fleet of more than 50 ambulances and four helicopters, and a comprehensive seven-trauma center care network, including the region’s only Level 1 trauma facility.
As a partner with The University of Texas System, UT Health East Texas is uniquely positioned to provide patients with access to leading-edge research and clinical therapies while training and educating the next generation of physicians and other health professionals. The nationally recognized UT System also includes UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, as well as three other major university medical centers located throughout the state.