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Covenant Health, Acadia Healthcare open new inpatient Behavioral Health Hospital in Knoxville

Jul. 28, 2022

East Tennesseans have a new resource to meet the growing need for accessible, high-quality mental and behavioral healthcare. East Tennessee Behavioral Health is a state-of-the-art behavioral health hospital that serves adolescents, adults and seniors who are living with mental health and co-occurring disorders, including psychiatric diagnoses and substance use disorders.

A joint venture of Knoxville-based Covenant Health and Franklin-based Acadia Healthcare Inc. (NASDAQ-ACHC), the three-story, 72,000-square-foot hospital is located on 17 acres on Old Weisgarber Road. The facility has 90 inpatient beds, with expansion capabilities for 48 more.

In addition to providing inpatient treatment for adolescents, adults, and seniors, East Tennessee Behavioral Health 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 two entities celebrated the hospital’s ribbon-cutting ceremony July 28. The event included welcome remarks from East Tennessee Behavioral Health CEO Mike Carney; Acadia Healthcare Operations Group President Dr. Jeffrey Woods; Covenant Health President and CEO Jim VanderSteeg; Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon; Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs; and Marie Williams, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

“The opening of East Tennessee Behavioral Health marks an important expansion of much-needed mental health treatment and resources for our region,” VanderSteeg said. “Covenant Health has a long-standing commitment to mental health services through Peninsula, our behavioral health division, which includes an inpatient hospital and outpatient programs for adults, adolescents, and children. East Tennessee Behavioral Health will increase significantly both the number of patients we can serve and the treatment and support programs we can offer.”

The hospital’s two key leaders are Carney and Mujeeb H. Khan, M.D.

Carney brings more than 30 years of experience in executive leadership for behavioral health facilities, most recently serving as CEO of Brentwood Behavioral Health of Mississippi in Jackson. He was responsible for the operation of a 121-bed acute psychiatric and residential system that offered inpatient and outpatient services for adults, adolescents, and children.

Khan, a geriatric psychiatrist at Parkwest Medical Center, has been a medical director and consulting psychiatrist at facilities in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Dakota. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in general psychiatry and a diplomate or board-certified in subspecialties including geriatric psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and clinical psychopharmacology, among others.

“We’re very pleased to have these leaders on board, along with other medical, behavioral, and operations specialists who are working diligently to prepare for the opening of East Tennessee Behavioral Health,” Woods said. “It’s exciting to see the hospital doors open and tour the facility, knowing how the unique range of services offered here will make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families.”

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.

For more information, visit www.easttennesseebehavioralhealth.com.

About Acadia Healthcare
Acadia Healthcare, headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services across the United States. As of December 31, 2021, Acadia operated a network of 238 behavioral healthcare facilities with approximately 10,500 beds in 40 states and Puerto Rico. With more than 22,500 employees serving approximately 70,000 patients daily, Acadia is the largest stand-alone behavioral health company in the U.S. Acadia provides behavioral healthcare services to its patients in a variety of settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, specialty treatment facilities, residential treatment centers and outpatient clinics. For additional information, visit www.acadiahealthcare.com or call (615) 861-6000.

About Covenant Health
Covenant Health is a community-owned healthcare delivery system providing comprehensive services in Tennessee. The health system includes 10 hospitals; outpatient services and clinics; oncology and rehabilitation services; home care; physician practices and community programs. Behavioral health services include inpatient care and outpatient programs through Peninsula, a division of Parkwest Medical Center, hospital-based gero-psych services, and East Tennessee Behavioral Health, a joint venture with Acadia Healthcare. With more than 11,000 employees, affiliated physicians and volunteers, Covenant Health is the Knoxville area’s largest employer and has been named a Best Employer seven times by Forbes. Learn more at www.covenanthealth.com.