Centra has opened the new Piedmont Psychiatric Adult Urgent Care (PPAUC) to meet the growing demand for mental health resources in the region. This innovative service aims to bridge the gap in psychiatric and behavioral healthcare for central and southwest Virginia. The nearest similar service for psychiatric adult urgent care is over three hours away.
"At Centra, we lead efforts in our region to address the social drivers and inequities that impact the health and quality of life for the communities we serve," said Pat Young, Centra's Vice President of Community Health Services. "Access to behavioral health services is a top need across our region. The opening of PPAUC will bridge the gap between emergency and outpatient services, reducing barriers to care and creating a critical access point for those experiencing new or worsening psychiatric symptoms by offering a same-day, walk-in option for services."
PPAUC is a specialty urgent care center for adults aged 18 and older experiencing mental health concerns. PPAUC offers resources for mood disorders, distressing thoughts, psychosis and uncontrolled behaviors. During the appointment, the patient will meet with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to discuss follow-up psychiatric appointments or make appropriate referrals based on the required level of care.
As demonstrated by the Community Health Needs Assessment conducted in 2021, mental health continues to rank among the top health concerns affecting communities across central Virginia. This new type of psychiatric service in the region will also relieve Centra's emergency departments by being a bridge to services that were formerly only available through the ER.
"This innovative service fills a gap between outpatient psychiatric care and emergency psychiatric care in the central and southwest Virginia community," said Ismael Gama, Centra's Vice President of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health. "Patients who need a simple psychiatric medication change will no longer need to walk into the emergency department or wait for their next psychiatrist appointment."
PPAUC can accommodate 14 appointments daily and is located at Virginia Baptist Hospital, 3300 Rivermont Avenue, Barker-Cowling Building, 2nd Floor, Lynchburg, VA 24503. Individuals can call 434.200.2300 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday to secure an available same-day appointment.
