St. Joseph's Health Receives More Than $726,000 in State Funding to Enhance Psychiatric Emergency Care

 

SYRACUSE, N.Y.— St. Joseph's Health has been awarded more than $726,000 in capital funding from New York State to support improvements to its Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP), enhancing the environment where individuals experiencing a mental health crisis receive care.

The funding is part of a statewide initiative announced by Governor Kathy Hochul to strengthen psychiatric emergency programs across New York.

"New Yorkers who are confronting a behavioral health crisis benefit from wider access to emergency programs tailored to their needs," Governor Hochul said. "By expanding psychiatric emergency programs within hospitals, we are able to quickly and comprehensively support individuals in a timely and personalized manner."

At St. Joseph's Health, the funding will support a series of facility and environmental enhancements designed to improve safety, visibility, comfort and therapeutic engagement within the CPEP unit. Planned improvements include upgraded doors and security features, a new observation window to improve staff visibility, refreshed patient care spaces, a new sensory room, updated furnishings, upgraded patient technology and infrastructure improvements to support infection prevention during construction.

“Every day, our team cares for individuals and families facing some of the most challenging moments of their lives," said Lauren Giannetti, Director of Behavioral Health at St. Joseph's Health Hospital. "This funding will allow us to enhance the CPEP environment in meaningful ways that promote safety, dignity and comfort while supporting evidence-based behavioral health care. Creating therapeutic spaces that reduce stress and foster healing is an important part of helping patients stabilize and begin their recovery journey."

The renovations will be completed in phases to minimize disruption to patient care and maintain access to critical psychiatric emergency services throughout the project.

"We are so excited to receive this grant because it will allow us to enhance the much-needed services provided to our CPEP patients,” said Meredith Price, President of Hospital Operations. “We are committed to serving every person with dignity, compassion and respect, especially during life's most vulnerable moments. This investment will help us create a safer, more welcoming and therapeutic environment for

individuals experiencing a mental health crisis while supporting our caregivers in delivering exceptional, person-centered care."

The Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program serves as a critical behavioral health resource for Central New York, providing crisis intervention, assessment, stabilization and treatment for individuals requiring immediate psychiatric care. Construction on the improvements will take 12-18 months to complete.