New Evaluation and Treatment Center Opened in Washington State
/North Sound E&T Center
On September 18, 2015, Telecare opened the doors to the North Sound Evaluation and Treatment (E&T) Center, a new acute inpatient facility located in Sedro-Wooley, WA. Created in partnership with North Sound Mental Health Administration Regional Support Network (RSN), the new program is a 16-bed locked facility, serving adults aged 18 and older.
The North Sound E&T Center held an open house on September 9 to show off the new facility. "It was a really successful open house," said Linda Reese, Vice President of Acute Operations. "All of the local politicians — county and state — who had supported the project to make it possible were there. It was really great." Speakers included: North Sound RSN Executive Director, Joe Valentine; Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Director at the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Chris Imhoff; and 2nd District Commissioner for Skagit County, Kenneth Dahlstedt. The open house was well received by the community and was featured on the front page of the Skagit Valley Herald.
The former E&T facility in North Sound closed in 2010. Last August, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that it was unlawful to temporarily board patients who have a mental illness in emergency rooms due to a lack of mental health treatment facilities. Since then, the State has been working to fund more E&T beds to help improve the care outcomes for clients.
Joe Valentine, Executive Director of North Sound RSN, said "Before, this place operated on a model of detention, and now we’re going to operate on a model of recovery."
(L-R) Joe Valentine, RSN Executive Director, North Sound Mental Health Administration, and Kenneth Dahlstedt, Skagit County Commissioner, at the North Sound E&T open house on Wednesday, September 9, 2015
(L-R) Christina Clark, Medical Director, North Sound E&T; Chris Imhoff, Director, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery for the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services; Faith Richie, Senior Vice President of Development, Telecare; and Jill Townsend, Administrative Secretary for Department of Enterprise Services, at the North Sound E&T open house on Wednesday,
September 9, 2015.
Front Entrance of the North Sound E&T Center.
(L-R) Telecare North Sound E&T Leadership Staff: Joel Lancaster, Director of Nursing; Melinda Welchart, Director of Social Work; Brittany Lawler, Clinical Director; and Gregg VonFempe, North Sound E&T Administrator, at the North Sound E&T open house on Wednesday, September 9, 2015.
