MiraVista Expands Access to Inpatient Mental Health Care with 10 New Adult Psychiatric Beds
At a time when hospitals and emergency departments across Western Massachusetts continue to experience long waits for psychiatric care, MiraVista Behavioral Health Center is expanding access to inpatient treatment with the opening of 10 new adult psychiatric beds.
The expansion increases capacity for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis while strengthening MiraVista’s direct admissions process, which allows people who need inpatient psychiatric care to be admitted without first going through an emergency department. This approach helps reduce delays in care and eases pressure on already crowded ERs.
“This isn’t a countdown — it’s a count up,” said Shelley Zimmerman, Chief Executive Officer and Hospital Administrator at MiraVista Behavioral Health Center. “With these additional beds, we’re expanding access to care while helping people get the treatment they need faster.”
MiraVista currently serves adolescents ages 13 and older and adults through inpatient psychiatric services, along with a continuum of outpatient substance use treatment and recovery programs. Patients are treated by multidisciplinary teams that include psychiatrists, physicians, nurses, mental health technicians, and therapists.
The hospital’s direct admission model allows referring providers to connect individuals to inpatient care more efficiently — often avoiding unnecessary emergency department visits and helping people reach appropriate treatment sooner.
MiraVista welcomes referrals from a wide range of community partners, including:
• Hospitals and emergency departments
• Primary care and pediatric practices
• Behavioral health and substance use treatment providers
• Schools and school-based clinicians
• Community health centers
• Law enforcement and first responders
• Social service agencies and nonprofits
• Families and individuals seeking help
To support collaboration and education, MiraVista is inviting community partners to schedule:
• Lunch & learn sessions
• Program overview meetings
• Direct admission process walkthroughs
These sessions are designed to help providers understand how to access inpatient care quickly, identify appropriate referrals, and connect individuals to the right level of treatment. At the same time, MiraVista has seen a strong response from clinicians and mental health professionals eager to join the hospital’s growing team — a reflection of both the demand for services and the mission-driven work taking place inside its walls.
“This expansion reflects the urgent need for timely, accessible mental health care in our region,” Zimmerman added. “By growing our capacity and our team, we’re making it easier for people to get the right care at the right time — and giving professionals a meaningful place to do that work.”
For more information, to schedule a visit, or to arrange a lunch & learn, contact: Kim Lee, Chief of Creative Strategy & Development at 413-264-3042 or klee@miravistabhc.care.