Universal Health Services Receives Sale of Land and Project Approvals for New West Allis Behavioral Health Hospital
Groundbreaking planned for fall 2019
Behavioral health hospital rendering.
West Allis, Wis. – (July 17, 2019) – Universal Health Services (NYSE: UHS) received final approval with a 10-0 vote from the City of West Allis Common Council to build a new, state-of-the-art behavioral health hospital at 1706 S. 68th Street. UHS anticipates breaking ground before the end of the year and opening the facility in 2021.
The new $33 million facility will feature:
- a new, dedicated 120-bed behavioral health hospital, spanning 83,000 square-feet;
- five distinct 24-bed units including three 24-bed adult units, a dedicated adolescent unit and a specialized older adult unit;
- programming to serve adolescents, adults and older adults; and
- intensive day programs and outpatient care.
“As a native of Milwaukee, with family still living locally, I am particularly proud that UHS was selected as provider of choice and gratified by the recent approvals, enabling us to bring care and healing to a community that has meant so much to me,” said Karen E. Johnson, Senior Vice President, Clinical Services and Behavioral Health Division Compliance Officer, UHS. “UHS provides compassionate, outcomes-focused behavioral care that transforms lives. As we continue to increase awareness and change the conversation about mental health and addiction issues, we are committed to our top priority of delivering high-quality specialty care to patients and their families.”
When operational, the hospital will employ 250-300 people including physicians, nurses, clinicians, mental health technicians and support staff. The new behavioral health hospital will have an estimated favorable economic benefit to the community of more than $75 million.
“Recognizing the need for behavioral health services in Wisconsin, we appreciate the unanimous vote at last night’s City Council meeting and are pleased to partner with Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division in serving the needs of the local community,” said Diane Henneman, Divisional Vice President, UHS. “We look forward to developing local community partnerships, contributing jobs and resources to the local economy, and providing patient and family-centered care to serve the overall health needs of the community.”
Patient rooms will be equipped with state-of-the-art safety features that facilitate healing and compassionate care including:
- an indoor gymnasium;
- therapeutic environments that incorporate calming color tones, wall décor and natural light throughout the building design; and
- secure outdoor recreational activity areas for each patient.
UHS operates more than 200 behavioral health hospitals serving more than 600,000 patients annually in the U.S. The organization is known for its long-standing commitment to patient and family-centered care, clinical outcomes, and partnerships with academic, regional networks and community-based entities.
The new behavioral health hospital will be solely owned and operated by UHS as an independent hospital open to all members of the community. In addition, there will be designated beds at the new hospital to provide care for patients referred from the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division (BHD).
BHD will continue to serve patients at the Behavioral Health Complex until 2021 to ensure a seamless transition of services. Milwaukee County and local private providers are collaborating on the development of a new crisis psychiatric emergency department, which is not a part of the new UHS hospital.
Click here to download additional rendering images and hospital information.
Universal Health Services, Inc.
One of the nation’s largest and most respected hospital management companies, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, UHS today has annual revenues of $10.7 billion. In 2019, UHS was again recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune; ranked #293 on the Fortune 500; and in 2017, listed #275 in Forbes inaugural ranking of America’s Top 500 Public Companies.
Our operating philosophy is as effective today as it was 40 years ago, enabling us to provide compassionate care to our patients and their loved ones: Build or acquire high quality hospitals in rapidly growing markets, invest in the people and equipment needed to allow each facility to thrive, and become the leading healthcare provider in each community we serve.
Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has more than 87,000 employees and through its subsidiaries operates more than 350 inpatient acute care hospitals and behavioral health facilities, and 32 outpatient and other facilities in the United States, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
