A newly renovated mental health facility in south Oklahoma City is set to open within days, moving dozens of patients from Griffin Memorial Hospital to a modern campus. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services purchased the SSM Health facility in November and describes the opening as a turning point in mental health care, addressing capacity and accessibility challenges in the state.
Facility Specifications and Timeline
The 32-bed annex includes updated security and technology, an outdoor courtyard, and shared living and dining areas. The annex represents the first phase of a larger project, with the bigger hospital slated as a longer-term development. Once complete, the campus will house up to 195 patients. The project is funded through ARPA dollars, which must be spent by the end of the year, with the full campus expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Strategic Location and Impact
The central Oklahoma location is expected to significantly reduce transportation times and address the backlog of patients needing care. According to state Rep. Preston Stinson, chair of the Appropriations and Health Budget Subcommittee, the facility will “help alleviate some of the issues we had with some of the mental health creating issues with folks that are in the county jails, being held for mental incompetency, and getting them restored to competency so they can stand trial.” Gregory Slavonic, interim commissioner for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, emphasized that being centrally located allows responders to bring individuals in crisis much quicker compared to the previous facility in Norman.
Operational Status
The facility is designated as a secure facility and is not open for walk-in care. Officials hope the relocation will ease strain on the aging Griffin Memorial Hospital, which state leaders described as “way past its prime.”
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.koco.com/article/new-mental-health-facility-to-open-south-oklahoma-city/70538656