Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Opens Veatch Behavioral Health Unit

Fairfax, VA – Inova marked the opening of the new Veatch Behavioral Health Unit at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital with a ribbon-cutting event. The adult inpatient unit, made possible by philanthropic support from Jeffrey and Amiya Veatch, expands much needed access to behavioral health care in our community, increasing bed capacity at Inova Mount Vernon from 30 to 50 beds. With this new unit, Inova will be the largest private provider of inpatient behavioral health services in Northern Virginia.

There has been a significant increase in people seeking behavioral health services nationwide and regionally, with Inova Emergency Departments treating nearly 1,200 behavioral health patients each month.  Increasing Inova’s inpatient behavioral health capacity meets a crucial need in Northern Virginia.

“The critical need for behavioral health services in our community and beyond has never been more apparent than it is today, and the opening of the Veatch Behavioral Health Unit at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital is a vital step towards meeting that need,” said J. Stephen Jones, MD, President and CEO, Inova Health System. “Thanks to the generous gift from Jeff and Amiya Veatch, every person who receives compassionate care and support in this new unit is one step closer to wellness and recovery. Together, we can continue to break down barriers and ensure that those who are suffering from mental health challenges have access to quality care close to home.”

The Veatch Unit will provide comprehensive inpatient mental health services and was carefully designed to prioritize the safety and well-being of patients, Inova team members, and visitors while creating a therapeutic environment to promote healing and recovery. The unit includes:

• “Quiet Rooms” for moments of respite to aid in reducing patient stress, anxiety and aggression;
• “Normalcy Spaces” dedicated family visitation spaces providing patients and families with social support to ingrain normalcy and routine; and
• “Group Therapy Rooms” for a wide range of group support and therapeutic activities.

“Amiya and I are proud to donate in support of behavioral health at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital,” said Jeff Veatch, Trustee, Inova Health Foundation. “We understand the need for greater access to mental health services in our community and hope our investment will make a difference in the lives of those who need it most,” added Amiya Veatch.

The unit will officially open for patients on May 16. For more information about Inova Behavioral Health Services, visit inova.org or to make a gift in support of this need, please visit inova.gives/behavioralhealth.

Media Contact: Tracy Connell, tracy.connell@inova.org, 703-674-9357

About Inova

Inova is Northern Virginia’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider. Our mission is to provide world-class healthcare – every time, every touch – to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve. Inova’s 20,000 team members care for patients through more than 2 million visits annually across an integrated network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, outpatient services, and destination institutes. 

Inova’s five hospitals are consistently recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals, and Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades for excellence in healthcare.

Inova is home to Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Its hospitals have a total of 1,936 licensed beds. More information about Inova can be found at inova.org.

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