MetroHealth, University Hospitals Partner to Increase Access to Behavioral Health Care Services

CLEVELAND – The MetroHealth System and University Hospitals are proud to announce a provider agreement that will allow more individuals to receive timely behavioral health care in Northeast Ohio.

As part of the agreement, UH clinicians will help provide care at the new MetroHealth Cleveland Heights Behavioral Health Hospital, which opened to patients last fall. These physicians will work alongside MetroHealth’s team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, mental health counselors and other caregivers. As part of MetroHealth’s care team, these UH providers will play an integral role in helping address the mental health crisis facing the community.

“Our Cleveland Heights Behavioral Health Hospital is a critical community asset, and we are thrilled to partner with University Hospitals to ensure more people get the help they so desperately need as quickly as possible,” said MetroHealth President & CEO Airica Steed, Ed.D, RN, MBA, FACHE. “If we truly want to impact health equity and improve access for the individuals who need us most, we must continue to pursue innovative partnerships like this. I continue to be energized by the spirit of collaboration and shared commitment among Northeast Ohio health systems to building a healthier community.”

“There is great demand in our community for behavioral health services, and we are proud to work with MetroHealth to help fulfill this essential need for Northeast Ohio,” said Cliff Megerian, MD, FACS, UH Chief Executive Officer, Jane and Henry Meyer Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair. “The need has grown even more acute in recent years due to greater isolation during the pandemic, the prevalence of fentanyl and other pressures on society. By combining forces with MetroHealth, we can make a difference for those patients and families seeking help.”

Like virtually all sectors of the economy, health systems are not immune to workforce challenges. Even well before the pandemic, the United States faced a critical shortage of psychiatrists and behavioral health professionals. That need has only deepened as the demand for behavioral health services surged amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The October 2022 opening of MetroHealth’s $42 million facility, which is located at 10 Severance Circle in Cleveland Heights, is believed to be the largest investment in behavioral health in Northeast Ohio in at least 30 years. The hospital offers inpatient and outpatient treatment for conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, addiction, mood disorders and dual diagnosis (those dealing with both a mental illness and substance abuse).

To learn more about MetroHealth’s Behavioral Health services, visit metrohealth.org/behavioral-health-services.

###