Franciscan Health Dyer will transition in late 2027 to a campus dedicated to treating behavioral health patients.
“Surrounding our patients with love, respect and dignity is fundamental to our Franciscan values,” said Sister M. Aline Shultz, Franciscan Alliance chairwoman of the board, in a press release.
“We know that providing patients experiencing a behavioral health emergency or requiring inpatient treatment with the compassionate care they need, when and where they need it, leads to better outcomes not only for them and their families, but the community at large,” Shultz said.
The transition aims to meet the growing need for behavioral health care. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports more than 22% of Indiana’s adults have mental illness. More than 27% of young adults have mental illness but only 17% received mental health services in the past year. The ability to provide mental health services has not been able to keep up with the increased demand nationwide.
Franciscan Health Dyer will expand its current 92 bed inpatient behavioral health unit and add behavioral health services.
The existing Dyer emergency room will house a Franciscan ExpressCare for patients seeking medical care. It will also feature an emergency intake department dedicated to behavioral health. Patients needing emergency room care may seek treatment at Franciscan Health Munster two miles away.
Having an emergency intake center with medical staff trained in caring for patients experiencing a behavioral health crisis can help free up beds in emergency rooms for patients in need of medical care.
Inpatient, emergency and surgical services will move from Dyer to the expanded Munster campus in late 2027. Inpatient rehabilitation will also move from Dyer to a new rehabilitation facility on the Munster campus.
The expansion of the Munster campus, led by Tonn and Blank Construction, is underway. It includes a three-story addition to an existing three-story medical structure and the construction of a new five-story medical structure.
“We look forward to continuing our long-standing presence serving Dyer, Munster and the Region with these expanded services and to continuing Christ’s ministry in our Franciscan tradition,” Dean Mazzoni, Franciscan Health Dyer, Munster and Michigan City president and CEO, said.
