New Behavioral Health Unit Opens At Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Leaders celebrated the grand opening of the recently expanded behavioral health unit at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center. The unit will open its doors to patients Dec. 2.

This $10.3 million project expands the BHU from 1,500 square feet to 7,000 square feet, tripling its capacity from five to 24 beds. The hospital has not expanded bed capacity since 2009. The new facility is designed to provide specialized care to address the increasing demand for mental health services in Howard County, which will impact overcrowding and emergency room wait times.

"Mental health is just as important as physical health, and today’s opening marks a significant leap forward in ensuring our residents receive the timely and supportive care they deserve. Howard County has one hospital. Like other hospitals across Maryland and the region, our hospital is experiencing increasingly higher patient volumes in its emergency room. On top of this, our hospital has not expanded its bed capacity since 2009. These high volumes result in longer than acceptable wait times. With this expansion, we are now able to better address hospital wait times and overcrowding within our emergency department. It reflects our commitment to addressing the mental health challenges in our community by providing a dedicated, therapeutic space for patients in crisis. Together with our partners, we are building a stronger, healthier Howard County," said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball at the grand opening ceremony.

The new BHU offers an open treatment spaces, semi-private rooms and dedicated areas for therapy. By alleviating overcrowding in the emergency department, the expanded unit will allow JHHCMC to better manage patient flow and care, enabling the hospital to see an additional 20-25 emergency patients per day, leaders said.

The expansion was made possible through a $2 million contribution from Howard County, $2.6 million in state funding and a $3 million fundraising campaign led by the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center Foundation.