July was a growth month for Covenant Health.
On July 19, Covenant Health announced the purchase of the Provision CARES Proton Therapy Center property and equipment in Dowell Springs. The acquisition is a great fit for Covenant Health, adding a new treatment option to the Thompson Cancer Survival Center.
Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy that uses beams of high-energy protons to treat various forms of cancer, while protecting nearby healthy tissue and vital organs from unnecessary radiation.
The facility’s new name is Thompson Proton Center. Covenant Health is retaining the employees of the proton center to ensure experience, quality and continuity of care for all current and future patients, according to a release from Covenant Health.
On July 28, Covenant Health and Acadia Healthcare held a ribbon-cutting celebration for East Tennessee Behavioral Health, a 90-bed inpatient behavioral health hospital serving Knox and area counties that addresses the critical need for additional mental health resources in the region.
The hospital is located at 1444 Old Weisgarber Road off of Middlebrook Pike in the Dowell Springs area.
Mike Carney is CEO of East Tennessee Behavioral Health. He most recently served as CEO of Brentwood Behavioral Health of Mississippi in Jackson.
Mujeeb H. Khan MD is medical director of ETBH. A geriatric psychiatrist at Parkwest Medical Center, Dr. Khan has been a medical director and consulting psychiatrist at facilities in five states.
In addition to inpatient treatment for adolescents, adults and seniors, ETBH offers two outpatient options for adults: a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (IOP), both of which patients may enter directly or by stepping down from inpatient care.
“The opening of East Tennessee Behavioral Health marks an important expansion of much-needed mental health treatment and resources for our region,” said Jim VanderSteeg, CEO of Covenant Health.
Referring to the long-standing commitment to mental health services through Peninsula, which includes an inpatient hospital and outpatient programs for adults, adolescents and children, he said, “East Tennessee Behavioral Health will increase significantly both the number of patients we can serve and the treatment and support programs we can offer.”
Following its opening, East Tennessee Behavioral Health will serve as a new care coordination “hub” for comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services in the area. Covenant Health and Acadia Healthcare will also collaborate to develop innovative care delivery models for integrating physical and mental health services.
