15-03-2025
Behavioral Health Pavilion celebrates15 years of service
bluefield — A facility providing mental health services to West Virginia, Virginia and beyond celebrated its anniversary Friday and recounted the care it has provided to over 104,000 people since its opening over a decade ago.
Princeton Community Hospital, now WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital, opened the Behavioral Health Pavilion of the Virginias to bring mental health services to the community. Since opening, the pavilion has cared for around 22,000 individuals with its inpatient program and another 82,000 through its outpatient programs. People from West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky have been served by the pavilion's physicians and personnel.
'Fifteen years ago, Princeton Community Hospital embarked on this journey with a vision — to create a place where individuals could find hope, healing, and support. Our facility has become a beacon of hope for those in need, and it is all because of the dedication of our team and the support of our community,' said John Nekic, executive director of the Behavioral Health Pavilion.
The Behavioral Health Pavilion, located at the site of the former St. Luke's Hospital in Bluefield, is a 64-bed behavioral health hospital for adults, outpatient psychiatric medication management, individual and family counseling and an intensive outpatient program to help adults prevent a hospital stay or transition from inpatient to outpatient care.
The need for accessible mental health services in West Virginia continues to grow, hospital officials said. More than a quarter of West Virginians consider their mental health to be fair or poor and the state faces higher rates of substance use compared to the national average.
Karen Bowling, CEO and president of WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital, said during a celebration at the pavilion that the hospital plans to break ground this spring on a full-service emergency department co-located at the pavilion to improve both behavioral health care and emergency care for the Bluefield community.
This project will enhance emergency care for both acute patients and those experiencing behavioral emergencies, she said.
'With our plans for the new emergency department, we are creating a space that not only provides immediate care for emergency patients but also offers close, seamless access to behavioral health services,' Bowling said. 'This is a critical step forward in ensuring that those in crisis receive the care they need without unnecessary transfers or delays. This project will make a significant impact on the lives of the people we serve.'
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