Construction on the $15.2 million Austin Health short stay observation unit and psychiatric assessment and planning unit project was completed in July 2016. The psychiatric assessment and planning unit opened in February 2017 and the short stay observation unit opened in March 2018.
The new and expanded facilities aim to provide patients admitted through the hospital’s emergency department in need of dedicated mental health care with better access to specialist services.
The new psychiatric assessment and planning unit provides dedicated mental health care to patients needing specialist care upon arrival in the emergency department. The short stay observation unit provides acute care for patients who are expected to stay in the unit for less than 24 hours.