Avera Opens New Adult Behavioral Health Unit in Sioux Falls

To meet ongoing and increasing demand for high quality behavioral health services, Avera is opening a new adult inpatient unit at the Avera Behavioral Health Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

This project entailed finishing shell space in the Helmsley Behavioral Health Center wing completed in 2021, adding 16 beds for adult care.

This project was funded through grant dollars, including $2.1 million in federal appropriations through a non-competitive grant supported by Sen. Mike Rounds office, and $1.2 million supported by Gov. Kristi Noem through South Dakota Department of Social Services and ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) dollars.

“As a leader in behavioral health care over the past six decades, Avera has a strong commitment to behavioral health,” said Thomas Otten, Vice President for Avera Behavioral Health Services.

“Timely care in a center that upholds values of dignity and respect in an environment that cares for the whole person – body, mind and spirit – can make all the difference for someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis.”

The project created a new adult unit to be more tailored for care of the most acute patients.

This unit cares for patients with more serious mental health disorders. All are single, private rooms, plus shared space for needs including laundry, dining and meeting rooms.

This new unit will allow renovation and expansion in adult beds and will allow for grouping of similar patients on adult units.

“Creating specialized units, especially for our most acute population, allows more tailored care for all adults,” Otten said. “We are grateful for state and federal funding, recognizing this need and helping us to meet that need.”

The project will bring Avera Behavioral Health Hospital to 160 beds, making it the fourth largest hospital in the state, yet one that is completely dedicated to behavioral health services.

“We recently expanded space for children and adolescents through construction of the Helmsley Behavioral Health Center. “This project addressed the next pressing need we identified, which is adult care,” Otten said.

Avera Behavioral Health Hospital has eight units in total: one child, two adolescent units, four adult units separated by acuity, and one senior.

In addition, the building houses the inpatient residential adolescent Addiction Care Center, 24-hour Behavioral Health Urgent Care, observation beds, partial hospitalization and psychiatric clinic space.

Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen is also expanding their behavioral health services through a state grant from the South Dakota Department of Social Services and ARPA dollars and philanthropy support.