Officials at Heywood Hospital have announced the reopening of their Inpatient Mental Health Unit.

The hospital received approval from the state’s Department of Mental Health to reopen six beds of the proposed 12 bed adult unit on Jan. 11, according to officials. Additional beds are expected to be added at a future date, and admissions would proceed according to approved staffing and planned progression.

The hospital was forced to close the unit in 2021 due to lack of qualified personnel, which persisted beyond the COVID public health emergency period, officials said.

“Delivery of mental health care services locally is essential to the overall health of our community,” said co-CEO Rozanna Penney, who added that recruitment of qualified clinical staff remained a challenge for the hospital. “The Mental Health Unit operates 24/7, requiring the staffing of professionals for all three shifts. We offer sign-on bonuses, flexible scheduling, tuition reimbursement, and competitive salaries, and are seeking individuals with the desire to make a difference in our community.”

Unit to feature enhanced security, upgrades

The reopened unit will feature several upgrades, including a sensory room that provides a calming environment thanks to a soothing mural, relaxing music and sounds, dimmer lighting, and safe rocking chairs. Additional sensory resources including fidgets, stress balls, and weighted blankets. Music and art therapy will be integrated into the therapy program to equip patients with coping strategies after discharge.

Enhanced security measures alert safety fobs for staff, new cameras, and aggressive behavior management training for all staff and security personnel. In June, a nurse at the hospital was stabbed by a patient in the hospital’s emergency department. David Nichols of New Hampshire man charged with attempted murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the incident.

The hospital recently closed its urgent care center to the general public, shifting its business model to providing same-day sick care visits to patients whose primary care physician is a member of the Heywood Medical Group.

Heywood Healthcare, the patient organization of Heywood Hospital, Heywood Medical Group, several other related healthcare businesses, filed bankruptcy in October 2023. In addition to the bankruptcy filing, the organization is also being sued for payment default related to the paused construction of a new surgical pavilion at Heywood Hospital.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Heywood Hospital Mental Health Unit reopening with music, art therapy