Press Releases

Providence Saint Joseph Foundation has been awarded a remarkable $600,000 grant from the Office of Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

This generous gift will make it possible for our medical center to build a new Behavioral Health Unit within our new Emergency Department (ED) to improve the care we are currently able to provide ED patients suffering from substance abuse and/or behavioral health conditions. The new unit will also enable us to give better care to our general ED patients and families, who will be treated in separate areas.

“The new Behavioral Health Unit will be divided into two wings, one on each side of the new Emergency Department, with eight designated behavioral health rooms,” explains Renée Bianco, Executive Director, Providence Saint Joseph Foundation. “This space will allow our hospital to accommodate the growing demand for these services as we continue to provide exceptional care to our most vulnerable patients.”

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center treats between three and eight behavioral health patients each day, seeing the highest numbers toward the end of the month when patients typically run out of their medications. The Behavioral Health Unit will bolster our ability to enhance our existing integrated programs to effectively treat and connect patients to the services they need. It will also help protect these patients in rooms designed for their specific needs. In separating these patients from the general ED population, everyone will receive the best care for their condition in a more peaceful environment.

“I am delighted to provide Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center with this grant to help build the new Behavioral Health Unit to better serve the needs of our community,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “Providing mental health services for those who visit the Emergency Department is critically important to support overall health and well-being. As a result of this center, vulnerable individuals and their families will receive the services they need to heal and thrive.”

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center is committed to creating an improved space for substance abuse and mental/behavioral health patients to meet the complex needs of this growing population. Having a designated Behavioral Health Unit in the ED will allow patients to receive the appropriate level of care in a safe, calm and healing environment, thus benefitting all patients and staff.

“We are immensely grateful for this extraordinary donation and for all the support we receive for our Minutes Matter Campaign,” said Kelly Linden, chief executive, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center. “Thanks to your generosity, we will continue to safeguard the lives of the many individuals who rely on our emergency care services.”

About: Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center

Founded in 1943 by the Sisters of Providence, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank provides the full range of diagnostic, treatment, care and support services for San Fernando Valley communities. Our 2,500 employees, nearly 300 volunteers and 700-plus physicians share a commitment to provide quality care for all. From comprehensive maternity care to our state-of-the-art neuroscience institute, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center provides the people in our community with a host of services they can’t get anywhere else in the Valley.