The NeuroDiagnostic Institute and Advanced Treatment Center opened at an official ribbon-cutting on March 15. This is the first state psychiatric hospital that has opened in the last 50 years. The facility is designed to serve 1,500 patients annually and will replace Larue Carter Memorial Hospital.
Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch joined Family and Social Services Secretary Jennifer Walthall, M.D., M.P.H., among others, were on hand to open the building. “This beautiful, new facility represents our state’s renewed and focused commitment to mental health,” said Dr. Walthall. “This state-of-the-art hospital will take advantage of the most recent advances in brain research and clinical care to optimize the quality of care and diagnoses for all Hoosiers with severe psychiatric illnesses.”
The hospital, located at 5435 E. 16th St., is a state-of-the-art facility for the advanced evaluation and treatment for patients with the most challenging and complex neuropsychiatric illnesses. From the NDI, patients will be moved to the appropriate community or state mental health facility. There are seven floors, with 94 adult beds, and 65 set aside for children and adolescents.
The NDI will focus care on acute and chronic mental illnesses, chronic addiction, adolescents with autism spectrum disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. There is a special autism section for behavioral stabilization — one of few of its kind in the country.
State-of-the-art services at the NDI include diagnostics, brain imaging and psychological testing. Patients will be referred to the hospital from Community Mental Health Centers, state psychiatric hospitals, and the justice system.
The $118 million facility also features 24 hour patient care and security, with over 600 security cameras to monitor clients, plus other safety features. The facility was designed to provide a less stressful setting that may help improve patient outcomes.
In addition, the NDI will serve as a teaching hospital, partnering with local universities for medical and nursing students, as well as interns of other disciplines. The facility will be connected to Community Hospital East by walkway to provide direct health care needs to patients.
“Co-locating with our acute care partners at Community Health Network will also help us to take a more holistic approach, as we know that people with serious mental illness often have other significant health issues that can worsen their brain-based illness and make treatment more complex,” Dr. Walthall added.
The project was announced in December of 2015.
