Stormont Vail Health has announced the opening of the Stormont Vail Outpatient Behavioral Health Center in Topeka, marking a significant step in improving mental health services in northeast Kansas.
New Facility Offers Dedicated Space
The new outpatient facility is located in a renovated building at 2601 S.W. 3rd St. on the former Topeka State Hospital grounds.
This specialized clinic offers compassionate, expert care for people navigating mental health challenges.
The new outpatient facility features a new entrance, rooms for individual and group therapy sessions, and space to expand psychological testing and medication management services.
Previously, outpatient behavioral health clients shared space with inpatient services at the Stormont Vail West building at SW 6th and Gage.
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The outpatient clinic is phase one of Stormont’s behavioral health improvements.
The next phase will reconfigure administrative offices and renovate space in the SW 6th and Gage building for specific services for pre-adolescents.
Designed to meet the community’s growing need for behavioral health, the Stormont Vail Outpatient Behavioral Health Center provides individualized treatment plans, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and therapeutic interventions in a safe, welcoming environment.
Patients work with a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, APRNs, nurses, social workers, and therapists.
Growth of Behavioral Health Program
The facility reflects dramatic growth for Stormont Vail’s behavioral health program.
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According to Brad Chapin, Director of Clinical Services, the health system had one therapist conducting 400 outpatient visits annually when he arrived 10 years ago.
Last year, the program served 44,000 outpatient visits with a staff of 30 therapists.
“We still are getting between 400 and 500 calls a month for services, so we are going to continue to grow as the need is there to try to meet that need,” Chapin said.
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Integrated System and Investment in Mental Health
“(It’s part of our integrated system) to work against stigma of behavioral health also,” Chapin said.
“You just go to the doctor, you see your primary care doctor and you also see your behavioral health specialist all in one system.”
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Chapin said he is grateful Stormont’s management recognized mental health deserved an investment on par with physical health.
“If you don’t pay attention to your mental health, it’s just like any other health care issue, it will continue to get worse.
It’s going to impact your work.
It’s going to impact your family.
It’s not one of those things that typically just gets better on its own.
You have to be intentional about taking care of your mental health,” Chapin said.
Commitment to the Community
“Our goal is to help patients of all ages build resilience, develop healthy coping strategies, and thrive,” said Brad Chapin, Director of Clinical Services at Stormont Vail.
“This new outpatient facility ensures continuity of care and a smooth transition from inpatient services or community referrals.”
“This expansion reflects our deep commitment to the mental health and well-being of ourcommunity,” said Mark Slyter, President and CEO of Stormont Vail.
We’re always looking for compassionate people to join our team.
Stormont Vail Health is committed to serving our patients, visitors, team members and communities.
Holistic Approach to Care
Each of our patients has a story to tell.
At Stormont Vail Health, we take a holistic approach to providing care.
We understand that health care goes beyond treating physical and mental ailments.
Why do we ask patients about their demographics, like race and ethnicity? Because we care!
Challenges in Behavioral Health
Chapin said behavioral health overall faces a challenge of recruiting people to the profession to meet demand.
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