Milwaukee, Wis. – Aurora Health Care and Aurora Behavioral Health Services is expanding treatment options for patients with drug, alcohol and other substance abuse issues with the opening of the new Dewey Center, a 75,400 square foot facility located on the campus of Aurora Psychiatric Hospital in Wauwatosa.
The newly designed facility features both in-patient and out-patient treatment options, as well as support services for families. It is part of the $35 million expansion of behavioral health services announced in October 2015, to create greater access to behavioral health services throughout the community.
“Threeyears ago we took a bold step to create greater access to behavioral health services for people in need, and the opening of the Dewey Center is a major milestone toward this goal of expanded access,” said Pete Carlson, president of Aurora Behavioral Health Services. “As a leading provider of mental health services and treatment programs throughout the region, we remain committed to doing all we can provide care options for those in need.”
The Dewey Center doubles the current capacity for residential treatment from 15 to 30 rooms. The average residential treatment program is approximately 28 days, and during the stay, patients receive a variety of both group and individual treatment..
Dewey will also provide expanded Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) through Aurora Behavioral Health Services. Both services allow patients to be seen daily by a team of doctors and therapists, and then return home following treatment. The comprehensive, medically-monitored program includes observation by both an attending psychiatrist and nursing personnel. Each varies slightly in terms of length of stay and hours in treatment each day, based on individual patient needs.
Finally, the new Dewey Center will also include a Hospital-based outpatient program for adults, which consists of individual, group and family therapy treatment options, varying depending on the patient’s needs.
The facility will have an onsite lab for testing and processing of specimens, as well as an onsite pharmacy. Patients and their families visiting Dewey Center will have the opportunity to spend time in the open-concept lobby area, designed to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The center includes a complete fitness center, where patients are encouraged to utilize the equipment to help them on their journey to a healthier life. Additional features include larger group rooms for yoga, mindfulness activities and art therapy, as well as a chapel.
Lance Longo, M.D., a psychiatrist with Aurora Psychiatric Hospital and expert on substance abuse treatment, said the new design features will support integrative therapies, which promote a patient’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being.
“The new Dewey Center will bring the best in treatment options to patients and their families, including personalized care as well as integrative therapy options to help patients on their recovery journey,” Longo said. “”Recovery can often be a long, hard road, and the new center will hopefully be a beacon of hope for the many lives the center will touch in the years to come.”
Dr. Longo will serve as the medical director of the center, and will also lead all addiction treatment programs.
To learn more about the Dewey Center, visit aurora.org/dewey, or call 414-773-4312.
Opening Weekend Details
The Dewey Center will host a public open house on Saturday, July 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where full tours will be available of the facility. Patients will begin to receive treatment in the facility on Tuesday, July 24.
Larger Expansion of Behavioral Health Services
The expanded Dewey Center is just part of the overall $35 million expansion of Aurora Behavioral Health Services throughout southeastern Wisconsin.
Additional completed expansion projects includes expansion of the psychiatric hospital in Wauwatosa to create additional available beds for patients, construction of a new parking structure to alleviate parking congestion, and the build out of the Dewey Center.
Additionally, Aurora Behavioral Health Services opened new outpatient clinics in Muskego and Glendale in 2016 and 2017, expanding treatment options through day-treatment programs.
“We know that both nationally and locally, that a gap still exists in treatment options for behavioral health needs,” added Carlson. “Our hope is we can continue to look for more ways to expand access to care for those in need.”
To learn more about the variety of treatments offered through Aurora Behavioral Health Services, visit aurora.org/behavioralhealth.
About Aurora Health Care:
Aurora Health Care is a not-for-profit Wisconsin-area health care provider and a national leader in efforts to improve health care quality. Aurora offers services at sites in more than 30 counties throughout eastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Aurora is Wisconsin's most comprehensive health care provider and the state's largest private employer. Aurora serves more than 1.2 million patients every year via a comprehensive network of facilities, services and providers, including 15 hospitals, more than 150 clinics, more than 70 pharmacies and more than 33,000 team members. As evidenced by more than 300 active clinical trials, Aurora is dedicated to delivering innovations to provide the best possible care today, and to define the best care for tomorrow. Get helpful health and wellness information through the Aurora blog, our Facebook page, as well as our Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest accounts. Aurora is part of Advocate Aurora Health, the 10th largest not-for-profit, integrated health system in the United States. We help people live well.