Pipeline: UHS Moves Closer to JV Opening; Pinnacle Treatment Centers’ New Clinic

UHS celebrates “beam-topping” of new JV with Valley Children’s Healthcare

Universal Health Services (NYSE: UHS) recently celebrated a milestone “beam topping” event in the construction of its newest hospital, River Vista Behavioral Health in Madera, California.

Construction workers successfully placed the final steam beam atop the 81,600-square-foot, 128-bed facility, which is situated in California’s Central Valley region. The Fresno-area hospital — which is slated to open in early 2023 — is a joint venture (JV) between King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based UHS and Madera-based Valley Children’s Healthcare.

Located along the San Joaquin River, River Vista will offer intensive day programs and outpatient care to adolescents, adults and older adults. The facility will have 24 of its beds dedicated to children ages 5-17, with an indoor gymnasium and outdoor recreational courtyards included in the facility.

“I think this is one of the most important things that we have achieved at Valley Children’s in the last decade,” Todd Suntrapak, the president and CEO of Valley Children’s Healthcare, said in a press release. “It is loud and clear from our community — and all the communities we serve from Bakersfield to Sacramento — that there is simply not enough access for kids who have behavioral or mental health challenges to get the kind of care they need. River Vista Behavioral Health — and our partnership with UHS — will directly benefit kids and families to receive behavioral healthcare services closer to home.”

UHS and Valley Children’s Hospital announced its intentions in 2019 to build River Vista. Once opened, the new facility will employ 250-300 workers including physicians, nurses, clinicians, mental health technicians and support staff.

Pinnacle Treatment Centers opens new OUD clinic

Pinnacle Treatment Centers has opened a new clinic in Springfield, Ohio that provides services for opioid use disorder (OUD).

Springfield Treatment Services — which is located between Columbus and Dayton — provides medication-assisted treatment drugs (MATs) including methadone, buprenorphine and vivitrol. MAT services including counseling are also available at the facility, which accepts Medicaid, commercial insurance and self-pay options.

Plans are in the works for Springfield Treatment Services to begin accepting Medicare and Medicare Advantage by the end of summer 2022.

“Treatment for opioid addiction is needed now more than ever in communities like Springfield,” Pinnacle CEO Joe Pritchard said in a press release. “Our mission is to make vital treatments available and affordable to at-risk communities and restore lives. We are grateful to finally be able to open our doors here to hopefully start making a difference right away.”

Springfield Treatment Services marks Pinnacle’s 18th opioid addiction treatment center in Ohio. Overall, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey-based Pinnacle has 21 treatment programs throughout the Buckeye State.

Pinnacle operates over 115 locations across Ohio, New Jersey, California, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Virginia. It is owned by the health care private equity firm Linden Capital Partners

Discovery Behavioral Health opens youth treatment center for eating disorders

Discovery Behavioral Health (DBH) has opened an inpatient facility in Mesa, Arizona for youth eating disorder treatment.

The Center for Discovery Mesa is a ​​12,054-square-foot center that holds 24 beds and treats children ages 10-17. The facility accepts both patients in the greater Phoenix area and across the country.

Launched in 1997, the Center for Discovery is DBH’s eating disorder treatment brand, with locations across 13 states.

“Our team provides the greater Phoenix area with top level treatment that Center for Discovery has been providing for over 20 years across the country,” Elizabeth Bochtler, the clinical director for the Mesa program, said in a press release.

Los Alamitos, California-based DBH operates over 130 clinics nationwide and provides services for eating disorder recovery, mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Founded in 1985, DBH is a portfolio company of Webster Equity Partners.

Bozeman Health to built adult psychiatric unit

Montana health care system Bozeman Health has announced plans to develop a 12-bed inpatient psychiatric unit for adults.

The unit will be housed inside Deaconess Hospital in Bozeman, Montana and will be the first of its kind in the town. The unit is expected to cost $7 million and is scheduled to open in 2023. Recruitment of workers for the new facility is expected to begin next year.

Bozeman Health serves an eight-county region of southwestern Montana.