After years of thoughtful planning and construction, UT Southwestern and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) ushered in a new era in behavioral healthcare June 16 as UTSW leaders and state officials unveiled the Texas Behavioral Health Center (TBHC) – the first state psychiatric hospital in the Metroplex.

Once fully operational, the Texas Behavioral Health Center will have 292 beds, with 200 for adults and up to 92 reserved for pediatric patients.

Featuring an innovative, patient-centered design, the 292-bed facility stands as the centerpiece of the state’s decadelong expansion of inpatient psychiatric care. The Texas Legislature allocated $384 million for the design and construction of TBHC.

“This project began with recognition by our state’s leadership of the enormous scale of unmet needs of those suffering from serious psychiatric disease in Texas,” UTSW President Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D., said at the event. “This hospital was designed to be a platform for not only providing care to those in need today but also the development of new and improved models of care that can benefit patients throughout the state and beyond.”

Dr. Podolsky was joined at the TBHC ribbon-cutting ceremony by state officials that included Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; Texas state Sen. Royce West; Texas state Rep. Tonie Rose; Stephanie Muth, Executive Commissioner of HHSC; John M. Zerwas, M.D., UT System Chancellor; and Christina Melton Crain, UT System Regent; among others.

UTSW President Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D., said the hospital was designed to provide care for current patients as well as develop new and improved models of care.

“As lieutenant governor, I have prioritized billions of dollars in investments for our state hospital network,” Lt. Gov. Patrick said. “It’s the biggest investment in mental healthcare in Texas history.”

“Dallas will now have a public state-of-the-art mental health hospital that will serve residents’ needs for years to come,” added Sen. West, who represents parts of Dallas and called TBHC “a sanctuary.”

In collaboration with HHSC, UT Southwestern led the design and construction of the 456,265-square-foot hospital, which features 200 adult and 92 pediatric beds. Children’s Health donated $261 in additional funding to construct the pediatric wing.

Before and after the ribbon cutting, state legislators toured the airy and modern building, located on Harry Hines Boulevard in Dallas’ Southwestern Medical District. TBHC houses a wide range of multipurpose rooms and flexible spaces that can be used for therapeutic, recreational, and social activities. Units are divided into “neighborhoods” that include exercise rooms, a café, a chapel, and several sensory rooms – all geared toward meaningful engagement with patients throughout their treatment and preparing them for successful lives outside the facility. Several outdoor courtyards and enclosed porches line the neighborhoods, allowing providers to incorporate fresh air, nature, and daylight into the healing process.

TBHC is “so much more than a hospital,” said Hicham Ibrahim, M.D., M.B.A., Professor of Psychiatry. “This environment empowers patients, supports providers and staff, and fosters a path toward home, connection, and healing,” he said.

Dr. Podolsky credited Hicham Ibrahim, M.D., M.B.A., Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern, for leading efforts to make TBHC an ideal setting to support patients and their recovery. Dr. Ibrahim participated in and helped facilitate more than 130 town hall meetings with individuals in need of psychiatric care, their families, and a variety of experienced experts to gather vital information and feedback to inform the design process.

“This is so much more than a hospital,” said Dr. Ibrahim, who also serves as UTSW Vice President and Senior Executive Officer of Ambulatory Services. “This environment empowers patients, supports providers and staff, and fosters a path toward home, connection, and healing. This is going to be a hospital that will serve needs that are currently going unserved and unmet, and it underscores UT Southwestern’s dedication to using its capabilities to serve the needs of the region and state.”

The first adult patients were admitted at the end of June. A date for the start of pediatric care isn’t set yet, UTSW leaders noted, but could begin as early as December.

Wayne Young, M.B.A., M.Ed., has been appointed Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the TBHC and Vice President of Behavioral Health Integration and Partnerships at UTSW. He comes to UTSW from The Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Development Disabilities in Houston, where he served as CEO. He previously oversaw behavioral healthcare delivery at JPS Health Network in Fort Worth.

Dr. Podolsky said that in addition to meeting the behavioral health needs of Texans, TBHC will continue to build upon UTSW’s tradition of innovative care and training.

Take a look inside: Texas Behavioral Health Center

“This hospital is a restorative building, informed by the best science,” Dr. Podolsky said prior to the ribbon cutting. “We are driven to provide the best care for our patients and the most effective training for our healthcare workforce. Part of our commitment is bringing what is inherent to UT Southwestern’s approach to clinical care: Looking for opportunities to improve it through research and discovery.”