New Med-Psych Unit Now Open at UH Cleveland Medical Center

Staff specially trained to care for patients with both medical and psychiatric care needs

UH Clinical Update | November 2019

In order to care compassionately for our patients with combined medical and severe behavioral health diagnoses, UH has opened a new Med-Psych Unit at UH Cleveland Medical Center.

Typically, this unit is appropriate for patients who are admitted with a primary medical diagnosis, but in another setting would be considered to be “high risk” and would, at a minimum, require a sitter or one-on-one care. For example, a patient may be admitted for a medical condition (e.g., severe urinary tract infection) but develops behavioral or cognitive symptoms and becomes unable to be safely managed in the general medical environment as a result of the condition; or perhaps a patient who has a psychiatric condition that is usually stable however becomes symptomatic as a result of his or her medical issue.

In this new unit, staff has been specially trained to care for patients with both medical and psychiatric care needs. Additionally, the unit is video-monitored, built with enhanced safety detail, and locked for entry and delayed egress, minimizing the need for sitters or physical restraints that often come with behavioral-specific units.

Located in the north wing of Lakeside 40, the unit currently houses 10 beds complete with telemetry monitoring capability. The model of care is one of active co-management between the Medical and Psychiatry providers.

Susan Padrino, MD, serves as the unit medical director, Arneta Montgomery manages the nursing care team, and Lori Locke functions as the operations director.  

If you have a patient you feel is appropriate for admission to this unit, please contact the Psych Consult Service at pager #30164 or you may reach Dr. Padrino directly at pager #33701. Any other questions may be directed via email to Susan Padrino.

Please visit the Med-Psych Unit pager or read the FAQ document located on the UH Intranet-Digital Workplace for more information.