On Monday, I joined Sheppard Pratt and community leaders to celebrate the ribbon cutting for a new residential crisis center in Baltimore City. This much-needed facility addresses critical gaps in mental health care, providing tailored support for individuals in crisis while reducing strain on emergency departments.
Located at the former site of the Gilchrist Center Baltimore, the center features two buildings with 16 beds each, offering both short-term crisis care and long-term residential support. Too often, individuals experiencing mental health crises spend days or weeks in emergency departments due to a lack of available mental health sites. This center bridges that gap, ensuring specialized care in the right setting.
Dr. Harsh Trivedi, President and CEO of Sheppard Pratt, highlighted the urgent need for accessible mental healthcare, noting that Baltimore faces some of the nation’s longest emergency department wait times. With an estimated 25,000 city residents living with serious mental illnesses, this facility represents a vital step toward addressing their needs.
The event also brought together Baltimore City Councilman Zeke Cohen, Maryland Hospital Association CEO Melony Griffith, and other community leaders, reflecting the collective commitment to improving mental health equity.
At GBMC, we’ve seen firsthand how prolonged stays by behavioral health patients impact emergency departments. Last year, Dr. Jeff Sternlicht, GBMC’s Chair of Emergency Services, testified to the Maryland legislature about this strain. Facilities like this one are essential to relieving pressure and improving outcomes for all patients.
The transformation of this site into a mental health crisis center reflects a shared mission. In 2014, Gilchrist—GBMC HealthCare’s hospice and elder care experts—rescued the Joseph Richey House (later known as Gilchrist Center Baltimore) from bankruptcy to maintain access to high-quality hospice care for Baltimore City residents. When Gilchrist relocated operations to a state-of-the-art inpatient facility in 2021, we seized the opportunity to transfer the property to Sheppard Pratt in 2022, knowing their vision aligned with ours. If our loved one were in mental health crisis, we would want them to be treated in a facility tailored to best meet them where they are.
This new center sets a higher standard for mental health services in Maryland and beyond. We are honored to support Sheppard Pratt in being part of the solution to a long-standing issue impacting healthcare.
Recognizing Our Physicians
On a celebratory note, earlier this week, we hosted our 34th Annual Physician Recognition Cocktail Reception at the Baltimore Country Club, Roland Park Clubhouse. It was a joy to gather with hundreds of our talented physicians and their guests to thank them for all they do for our patients and health system. This annual event is a small token of our immense gratitude.
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