PORT TOWNSEND — Mental health care in East Jefferson County, currently run by Discovery Behavioral Health, could be under the umbrella of Jefferson Healthcare by the end of the year.
The hospital is working on a partnership with Discovery Behavioral Health that could be realized as soon as March 1, Jefferson Healthcare CEO Mike Glenn told commissioners Feb. 1.
The goal would be to acquire Discovery Behavioral Health by Dec. 31, he said.
The decision will be up to the hospital commissioners at their meeting at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Victor J. Dirksen Conference Room on the first floor of 834 Sheridan St.
Discovery Behavioral Health, formerly Jefferson Mental Health Services, is a private nonprofit organization that supplies the majority of mental health services in East Jefferson County.
Glenn did not outline the cost of such an acquisition during his presentation, which was attended by more than 20 people aside from the five commissioners.
He stressed that a partnership would benefit both patients and providers in the county.
“These are the people with the greatest need,” Glenn said of patients.
He added that the merger would benefit the providers in that the Washington State Health Care Authority requires the integration of mental health services by 2020.
“The Health Care Authority is requiring that behavioral health, primary care, both financially, clinically and electronically, integrate in order to drive whole body care,” Glenn said.
The partnership with Discovery Behavioral Health wouldn’t be a new experience. The two have worked together in hiring mental health staff at the hospital and work to apply for grants together.
The plan, if it is approved by the commissioners Wednesday, would be to start with the two organizations co-managing the clinic and finances of Discovery Behavioral.
Both organization would continue to operate in their current locations until a site plan is developed that would allow for more physical space for the mental health care services at Jefferson Healthcare.
According to Glenn, the plan would also include the transition of all Discovery Behavioral staff, who would become Jefferson Healthcare employees.
Mental health care in Jefferson County has been an issue outside of the hospital. Accessible mental health services is among the priorities in the Community Health Improvement Project adopted by the county board of health and commissioners last fall and has been addressed in both Port Townsend City Council meetings and county commissioner meetings in the past year.
County Commissioner Kathleen Kler, who chairs the Salish Behavioral Health Organization, has expressed her backing for the merger.
Hospital commissioners have until Dec. 31 to make a final decision on the merging of the two health care organizations.
“It’s our responsibility to make the availability of resources easy,” Glenn said. “It is a really big deal.”
________
Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
