First inpatient mental health facility in Coachella Valley now open
Coachella Valley Behavioral Health, the only freestanding, inpatient mental health facility serving the area, has officially opened and is now accepting patients.
After much anticipation — the hospital was slated to open back in January but construction and inspections delayed the opening by nearly a year — the 80-bed hospital will now provide inpatient treatment for adolescents (ages 13 to 17) and adults. Coachella Valley Behavioral Health is located at 81-555 JFK Court in Indio, near JFK Memorial Hospital, and is open 24 hours a day.
Voluntary adults and walk-ins are now being accepted, and as long as a patient meets criteria, all forms of health coverage will be accepted (private insurance, Inland Empire Health Plan, Medicare, etc.), said Byron Bonsall, director of business development.
“We’re excited to be opening our doors. We look forward to supporting the community and being an important mental health resource to residents of the Coachella Valley,” CEO Sharon Pudlo said in a provided statement.
The facility opens at an important time when mental health services are increasingly needed in the Coachella Valley. Approximately one in five local adults have been diagnosed with one or more mental health disorders, with the top three being depressive disorders (14%), anxiety disorders (12%) and PTSD (7%), according to a 2022 Coachella Valley Community Health Survey. Additionally, 34% of adults have had an emotional, mental or behavioral health problem in a 12-month timespan that concerned them. However, nearly 17% of adults, or more than an estimated 19,000 people, with mental health concerns and/or diagnoses couldn’t get the care they needed.
“There are no inpatient mental health services here in the Coachella Valley,” Bonsall said in November before the Indio facility opened. “If anybody needs inpatient mental health services, they would have to go at least 70 or 75 miles away.”
At first, around 10 to 12 patients will be admitted at a time to allow for staff to get used to the daily operations, Bonsall said. Once the hospital reaches 30 discharges, Joint Commission will come for an inspection, and if the facility passes, it will be able to increase the number of patients at a given time.
The Desert Sun recently went on a tour of the facility to see the space and learn more about the types of services offered at the psychiatric hospital. For more information about Coachella Valley Behavioral Health, call 1-855-812-7400.
What does the facility look like?
The single-story, 73,000-square-foot hospital consists of two buildings, one dedicated to the admission area and offices, and the other for patient housing.
The facility has 80 inpatient beds available, divided into four care units: two 20-bed units for adults; one 20-bed unit for older adults ages 65 and older; and one 20-bed unit for adolescents ages 13-17.
Units are co-ed, but not mixed by gender in the room. Rooms include two twin beds, a nightstand, a lock box that can be used for a CPAP machine, storage cubbies and a bathroom that has a soft magnetic door on it, a shower, sink and toilet.
Additional seclusion rooms are available if a patient is acting out and needs to be separated from others to regulate their emotions. A large window allows staff members to observe the individual, and there is a “panic button” available to press if additional help is needed. Each employee is also wearing a panic button for emergencies.
Patients will “always be observed” while they’re at the hospital, Bonsall said, which includes rounds every 15 minutes in the housing units.
The facility is locked, and those entering will need to be buzzed in by the front desk. By the main lobby is a separate admission area to provide safety and confidentiality for patients, Bonsall said. There is also a separate area for those being dropped off by ambulances, law enforcement or mobile crisis teams.
A person will be taken to an assessment room to determine what they are struggling with and what services may be needed. One such room is decorated with a photo of a Joshua tree to help people feel calm, Bonsall said.
Further inside the facility are two dining rooms, where patients will be served fresh meals, a gymnasium with a basketball court, outdoor courtyards, a pharmacy, a television room and a laundry room.
What services are provided?
The hospital is dedicated to in-patient mental health services and short-term stabilization.
The facility provides treatment for people struggling with primary mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety , posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, self-harm and suicidal ideation. Treatment is also available for those who have co-occurring addictions to substances such as alcohol, prescription painkillers, heroin and benzodiazepines.
The website also states the hospital can admit patients who have a secondary diagnosis of an eating disorder in addition to a primary mental health concern.
What does a typical stay consist of?
Coachella Valley Behavioral Health’s clinical team consists of registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, case managers and mental health associates, Bonsall said. Other employees in the facility include those in business development, security, housekeeping, dietary and administration.
Bonsall said patients will be admitted at the hospital roughly between seven to 10 days. When they are accepted, they will turn in their personal items, including phones, wallets and purses, and they will receive them when they leave. There are payphones in the units if they need to contact anyone during their stay.
Once they are in the program, they will follow a set daily schedule, which will include group sessions, one-on-one time with their clinical team and outdoor time. Classes and other activities are available as well, including activity therapy, art, yoga and chair therapy.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all program or treatment for everybody,” Bonsall said. “Every case is looked at individually.”
Additionally, due to the proximity to JFK Memorial, Bonsall said doctors from the hospital will come in and provide checkups or physicals, if needed, for patients.
Once a patient’s stay is over, they will be referred out to another facility or program to continue their treatment, which may include Coachella Valley Behavioral Health’s own outpatient department, also located within the facility. That department provides a partial hospitalization program (a six-hour program that provides similar treatment to a patient’s in-patient services) and an intensive outpatient program (a three-hour program that is scheduled around a person’s work or school schedule).
“When they leave here, we want to make sure that they have the tools so they’re able to get through the treatment,” Bonsall said. “The last thing we want to see is have them end up back here. If they do, we’ll start over.”
Do I need a referral?
Patients may be referred to Coachella Valley Behavioral Health from an emergency room, doctor’s office or other programs in the community. People can also walk in voluntary to seek help.
(This story was updated to correct a phone number.)
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
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