Shannon Medical Center, situated in San Angelo, Texas, has inked a deal to acquire River Crest Hospital, a local behavioral health center, from Universal Health Services, Inc.
Shane Plymell, the president and chief executive officer of Shannon Medical Center, highlighted the pressing need for enhanced behavioral health resources in the community. He pointed out that Texas has been ranked as the worst state in the nation for access to mental health services for two consecutive years by Forbes Advisor. Plymell emphasized that integrating River Crest Hospital into the Shannon Health System would significantly bolster access to specialized care for individuals of all ages grappling with behavioral health and substance abuse challenges.
River Crest Hospital, an 80-bed behavioral health facility, has been serving the San Angelo community for over three decades. It offers programs catering to children, adolescents, adults, and military members dealing with behavioral health and substance use disorders. Shannon currently operates a 22-bed regional inpatient psychiatric facility for adults and senior adults, alongside outpatient behavioral health programs.
Phuong Cardoza, Group Director of Behavioral Health at UHS, expressed confidence in Shannon’s commitment to addressing the current and future needs of behavioral health in San Angelo. Joining forces with Shannon, Cardoza noted, will enable River Crest to continue its crucial role in meeting the community’s behavioral health needs and supporting its dedicated physicians and staff.
Through the planned acquisition, Shannon Medical Center pledges to focus on:
- Care Coordination: Enhancing connectivity between care teams and facilitating seamless transitions for patients requiring higher levels of care.
- Maintaining and Enhancing Local Services: Ensuring the continuation of comprehensive behavioral health services in the region and preserving local access to essential care.
- Resource Investments: Expanding behavioral health services in the Concho Valley through facility upgrades, technological advancements, increased staffing, and provider recruitment. The initial phase will involve adding 20 beds to the River Crest campus, with a subsequent expansion planned for an additional 20 beds.
