Sandia Ridge Center Launches New Mental Health and Recovery Unit

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Feb. 15, 2017 -- Sandia Ridge Center, a 136-bed skilled nursing center operated by Genesis HealthCare, is opening a new Mental Health Recovery unit in an important clinical collaboration with the University of New Mexico Health System. 

Over the past year, Genesis and UNM have developed a variety of new clinical programs across New Mexico aimed at improving patient care and making the transition from the hospital to a post-acute care facility more efficient.

The new 26-bed Mental Health and Recovery Unit at Sandia Ridge offers patients with mental health conditions a robust, recovery-based program of services provided by a highly trained, knowledgeable team working together with UNM mental health specialists.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with UNM specialists to bring the first Mental Health and Recovery Unit to New Mexico,” said Dave Almquist, Genesis executive vice president and president of the company’s West Division.

“This specialized program addresses an unmet need in the Albuquerque community,” he added. “Patients with mental health conditions often are discharged unsuccessfully from the hospital or other care setting to the community and require re-hospitalization. Our Mental Health and Recovery program is focused on helping our patients manage their disease and live in a physically and emotionally healthy manner.”

Paul B. Roth, MD, MS, Chancellor for Health Sciences and CEO of the UNM Health System, said the new unit will enhance the ability of UNM clinicians to meet the mental health needs of New Mexico residents.

“This new collaboration with Genesis focused on mental health is a unique and innovative care model,” Roth said. “This is a great opportunity to leverage the expertise of our physicians and providers with a national leader in skilled nursing to create a new level of care in our community.” 

Genesis is New Mexico’s largest post-acute care provider, operating 19 skilled nursing centers throughout the state. Ten of its skilled nursing centers are located in the Albuquerque metropolitan area.

The new unit will tailor services to each person’s unique needs. The focus is on wellness and recovery, based on the premise that people with mental health conditions can – and do – recover from the effects of their illnesses.

UNM psychiatrist Davin Quinn, MD, will serve as the Mental Health Recovery Unit’s medical director. Quinn received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and was fellowship trained in psychosomatic medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is an associate professor and chief of the Division of Behavioral Health Consultation and Integration in UNM’s Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.

Quinn will be on-site at the unit each week to review care plans, perform evaluations and conduct educational rounding with unit staff.

About Genesis HealthCare
Genesis HealthCare (NYSE:GEN) is a holding company with subsidiaries that comprise one of the nation’s largest post-acute care providers with approximately 500 skilled nursing centers and assisted/senior living communities in 34 states. Genesis subsidiaries also supply rehabilitation and respiratory therapy to more than 1,700 health care providers in 45 states, the District of Columbia and China. References made in this release to “Genesis,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Genesis HealthCare and each of its wholly-owned companies. Visit our website at www.genesishcc.com.

About UNM Health System
UNM Health System is the clinical arm of the UNM Health Sciences Center, New Mexico’s only academic health center. The Health System, which includes UNM Hospitals, UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center and UNM Medical Group, Inc., is home to the state’s only Level I trauma center and offers a broad range of tertiary and quaternary care for patients with high-acuity needs. It also operates adult and child psychiatric programs. The Health System handles approximately 900,000 patient visits a year.

Contact: Jeanne Moore, Genesis HealthCare
484-949-5647

Luke Frank, UNM Health System
505-272-3679