The Barber National Institute is transferring some of its behavioral health services to another local provider so that the institute can focus on serving people with intellectual disabilities and autism.
LECOM Behavioral Health will take over the institute’s behavioral health programs that don’t involve its core clients. The switch is expected to be completed by June 30, said Robert Barber, the institute’s senior vice president.
“We went through an evaluation of all of our programs,” Barber said. “This is not being done for financial reasons … but there is a finite amount of resources and we felt that we need to focus on our core service lines that most closely align with our mission.”
Patients will be emailed about the switch April 13 and receive a follow-up letter in the mail a few days later.
They are not required to receive services through LECOM Behavioral Health. The notifications will include a full provider list “to emphasize patient choice,” an institute spokeswoman said.
No money exchanged hands in the deal, Barber said.
About 45 institute employees, out of nearly 2,500 across its system, will be affected by the switch. LECOM Health officials said all affected employees will be offered jobs.
The Barber National Institute, 100 Barber Place, has provided services for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and autism since 1952.
What services are moving to LECOM?
Services moving from the institute to LECOM Behavioral Health include:
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blended case management for children and adults with mental health needs;
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family-based mental health services in Erie and Warren counties;
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intensive behavioral health services;
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outpatient services for adults in the Erie County probation system who require behavioral health medications.
These services involve between 500 and 600 people. It’s about half of the institute’s total number of behavioral health patients and about 5% of its entire client population.
“We already offer all of these services and are pleased to be able to extend them,” said Dr. Danielle Hansen, LECOM Health regional president. “We not only can offer jobs to all the staff, we will be hiring a few additional people.”
Services will be offered at various LECOM Health facilities, including the Achievement Center, Corry Counseling, LECOM Institute of Behavioral Health, and the Behavioral Health Pavilion at LECOM Medical Center.
What behavioral health services will remain at BNI?
The institute will continue to provide other behavioral health services that help its clients with intellectual disabilities and autism. They include:
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Early Intervention for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities;
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children’s acute and school-based partial hospitalization;
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parent autism support group;
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rapid response team that addresses child behavior challenges before they escalate;
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Camp Connections, a summer camp for children with autism;
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https://gymforcestore.com/-based school consultative services.
LECOM Health’s expansion continues with deal
The deal represents yet another expansion for LECOM Health.
Over the past two decades, LECOM Health has purchased dozens of properties along upper Peach Street, and elsewhere in Erie and Millcreek. Some of those properties have been converted into medical offices and an ambulatory surgery center, while others remain vacant or are leased to other businesses.
It also has taken over operations of Corry Memorial Hospital and oversees 11 long-term care facilities in Erie County.
Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com or by calling 814-870-1736.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Barber Institute transfers some behavioral health services to LECOM
