Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital Unveils Ambulatory-Care Addition and 'Inspiration Gallery'

Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital has opened a new $3.6 million ambulatory-care wing and has augmented its expressive therapies program with an artwork collection designed to help patients benefit from the healing power of art. 

The two-level, 12,000 sq. ft. ambulatory-care addition houses the Hoffman Estates, Ill., hospital's partial-hospitalization and intensive-outpatient programs, senior administration offices, and education, infection-control and nutrition departments. 

"Most hospitals don't have the luxury of building on this type of ambulatory care facility in psychiatry," says Mark Frey, ABBHH President and Chief Executive Officer. "It's a very positive thing."

Construction of the new wing was made necessary by the rapid growth of ABBHH's ambulatory-care programs in recent years. "Our facility was overcrowded and simply did not have the capacity to accommodate all the patients we needed to see," Frey says.

Plans call for adding a third level to the ambulatory-care addition before the end of the year. The third level will enable the hospital to expand its ambulatory-care services for children and adolescents and to expand its autism spectrum disorders program and anxiety disorders program, Frey says. He also expects renovations of the hospital's electroconvulsive therapy suite, geropsychiatry unit and kitchen, along with additional parking, to be completed by the end of 2007. At that point, "the hospital, as currently planned, will be pretty much finished, "Frey says.

The hospital's new artwork collection, known as "The Inspiration Gallery," features about 60 pieces of art created by patients, staff members and professional artists. Displayed throughout the hospital, the artwork is refreshed on a regular basis with new contributions selected by an employee committee that oversees the gallery.

Creating a healing environment characterized by calmness has been a top priority during ABBHH's recent expansion, and the gallery is "a natural evolution" of this effort and the hospital's long-standing focus on expressive therapies, says Francine McGouey, ABBHH Chief Operating Officer.

"The whole idea is to promote the healing power of art," she says. "As our patients walk through the hallways, they frequently stop, look at the art, consider its meaning and discuss with other patients what they're seeing and feeling. That's exactly what we hoped would happen.... That's why we named it The Inspiration Gallery."

About a third of the artwork in the gallery comes from participants in the hospital's art therapy program, which has been particularly helpful for children who lack the cognitive or verbal ability to communicate their feelings. The art they create often provides insights into troubling relationships or situations, McGouey says. In addition, patients experience a feeling of success and a boost in self-esteem when their artwork is displayed.

Staff members and professional artists also are excited when they earn spots in the gallery, McGouey says. In this way, the gallery reflects the Alexian Brothers' value of Dignity of the Person, she says." The Brothers are dedicated to behavioral health and psychiatric treatment throughout the world," she says.

"They provide an environment where we have been able to maintain expressive therapy and where it can prosper." The hospital formally unveiled the gallery and the ambulatory-care addition during a dedication.