Community need has outpaced existing facilities at the Behavioral Health Urgent Care and Crisis Observation Center at Broadlawns Hospital.

As a solution Polk County partnered with the hospital to find an alternative location for expanded services. The county identified a vacant county-owned building and OPN was hired to evaluate the building’s feasibility to be transformed from its previous use to a comprehensive Behavioral Health Outpatient Center with a Sobering Center. The hope is that locating the behavioral health services in a non-institutional setting in the heart of the community, would reduce the stigma of having to go to the hospital and provide relief to the Emergency Department. The Sobering Center will provide nonviolent intoxicated clients an alternative to jail., where they can have access to substance abuse and mental health resources, and be treated from a health and wellness perspective rather than a punitive one.

OPN worked with the county and the hospital to program and plan the new facility. As a publicly funded project, the budget was critical. During the planning and design process, value-based decisions weighed needs, wants, and desires against the budget and patient, staff, and community benefit provided.

The new facility addresses challenges at the existing facility caused by co-locating the central care team with reception in direct view of the waiting area. At the new urgent care center a a centrally located care team area fosters collaboration and is directly accessible to all of the treatment space while not being in direct view of reception and waiting. It is also located directly next to the crisis observation unit with windows providing better observation. Exam rooms are planned specifically for behavior health patients, set up for a more conversational visit rather than the typical medical healthcare model.

Client and staff safety is balanced with a for a calming, welcoming space. Easy to navigate spaces foster a sense of calm, familiarity, and empowerment. Colors and materials are calming. Dedicated staff rooms are arranged in more quiet areas for respite. This project was planned with selective demolition. When appropriate, existing spaces will remain and be repurposed to reduce cost where prudent.