Closure of Birthing Unit Followed by Decision to Close Inpatient Mental Health Department at Adventist Health St. Helena
20 January 2020 | Days after the closure of the birthing unit at Adventist Health St. Helena on January 11, the hospital has announced that it will also close its inpatient mental health and senior behavioral health units.
According to facility’s president, Steven Herber, M.D., the closure decision involves 105 full-time, part-time and per diem employees. Patients will be absorbed by Adventist Health facilities at Adventist Health Vallejo. Also, outpatient psychiatric services are offered by the Adventist Health clinic in Calistoga.
“We are eager to work with each staff member to place them in other positions within the hospital or in other Adventist Health facilities,” said Herber in an announcement obtained by the North Bay Business Journal. “We are hopeful we can retain the staff.”
“Adventist Health spent considerable time and effort looking at multiple scenarios and it was determined that this was the best course of action,” he said. “Patients will have access to inpatient services at Adventist Health Vallejo. … This change better allocates specialized clinicians at a single location, which is ultimately more efficient.”
Located in St. Helena, Northern California, Adventist Health St. Helena is part of the Adventist Health nonprofit network. Adventist Health has hospitals, clinics, home care agencies, hospice agencies and joint-venture retirement centers in both rural and urban communities, serving more than 80 communities across the western United States and Hawaii. The healthcare system is affiliated with the Adventist Church.