Richard Young Center will close its doors by April 1, 2003, after 72 years of service to the community and region. Leaders of Richard Young Center and its sponsoring organizations made the announcement at a press conference this afternoon. In addition, it was announced that the mental health joint sponsorship created in 1999 by Methodist Hospital and Nebraska Health System will be dissolved.
UNMC Today asked David Folks, M.D., professor and chairman of the UNMC department of psychiatry, how the closing of Richard Young Center will impact his department. Below are his responses.
Q:What is your reaction to today’s announcement?
A:This is a real tragedy for the community, for the patients and their families and for an institution that has provided care for 72 years to this most vulnerable population. Facing the economic realities of the mental health system is a bitter pill to swallow.
Q:How will the termination of the academic affiliation agreement between the Richard Young Center and UNMC impact the UNMC Department of Psychiatry?
A: NHS has agreed that it will continue to provide a setting for educating our students and house officers and caring for adult psychiatric patients. Nebraska Health System leaders have been very supportive in assuring that the College of Medicine’s psychiatry program will continue to meet accreditation standards.
Q: What impact will the closing of Richard Young Center have on students and house officers?
A: It should have a minimal effect. As I mentioned, NHS has been very supportive in assuring that the Department of Psychiatry have an educational setting for students and house officers. We plan to continue to send students to the VA Medical Center and County Hospital for their training. Many of the psychiatrists at the VA Medical Center and County Hospital are already UNMC faculty members. In addition to RYC, psychiatry house officers receive their training in several hospitals throughout the community. These include Nebraska Health System, VA Medical Center, Creighton University Medical Center, Immanuel Medical Center, Midlands Hospital and Methodist Hospital.
Q: What impact will this have on faculty and staff?
A: Adjustments will need to be made in the Department of Psychiatry programs and we are working to determine what those are. The roles will change for those faculty and staff who are directly involved with programs at the Richard Young Center.
Q: Will UNMC psychiatry faculty continue to reside in the building located at 515 S. 26th St.?
A: We plan to remain at our current site.