Riverside Healthcare Opens First Phase of Behavioral Health Expansion, Enhancing Adult Inpatient Care

Riverside Healthcare has reached a major milestone in its multi-year investment in behavioral health services with the opening of its newly renovated adult inpatient behavioral health unit.

This marks the first completed phase of Riverside’s nearly $30 million project to modernize and expand its inpatient behavioral health facilities, which began in fall 2025 and is expected to continue through 2027.

The new adult unit reflects a modern approach to behavioral health care, with thoughtfully designed spaces that support safety, dignity and healing. Features include private patient rooms, calming environments and lighting designed to mimic natural daylight cycles, all aimed at improving the patient experience and supporting healing.

“This is a significant step forward for behavioral health care in our community,” said Phillip Kambic, Riverside President & CEO. “We are creating an environment that better supports our patients during some of their most vulnerable moments.”

As construction progresses into the next phase, Riverside will temporarily suspend services in its inpatient child and adolescent behavioral health unit during the renovation. Plans are in place for these services to return following completion of this phase of the project.

Children and adolescents experiencing a behavioral health crisis can continue to seek care through the Riverside Medical Center Emergency Department throughout the renovation. Specially trained pediatric behavioral health nurses will be available to help assess and stabilize young patients and work with families to identify an appropriate inpatient placement when that level of care is needed.

During this time, Riverside has established partnerships with regional providers to ensure children and adolescents who need inpatient care continue to have access to those services. At the same time, the organization has expanded its outpatient behavioral health programs to better support younger patients and families who may benefit from intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization services.

“Our goal is to make sure every patient receives the right level of care at the right time,” said Rebecca Schiltz, Riverside Vice President of Post-Acute Services. “By strengthening our outpatient programs and working closely with trusted partners, we are able to continue supporting children and families while this phase of construction is underway.”

These efforts are part of a broader focus on improving access, coordination and quality of behavioral health services across the region. Nationally, one in two individuals will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime, underscoring the importance of having a strong, local system of care.

The redesigned inpatient units will allow Riverside to better serve patients experiencing acute mental health crises, including those who may be at risk of harming themselves or others, while also enhancing the overall care environment.

Riverside leaders emphasize that this milestone is just one step in a larger transformation.

“This investment reflects our long-term commitment to behavioral health and to the people we serve,” said Kambic. “We are building a system of care that is more responsive, more connected and better equipped to support our community now and into the future.”

Additional phases of the inpatient renovation project will continue through 2027, including updates to both the geriatric and pediatric behavioral health spaces.

For more information about Riverside Healthcare’s Behavioral Health services, visit riversidehealthcare.org.