Suburban Life - Main Line/Philadelphia - Issue #1 (January 2022)

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SL_PROFILE_Belmont_Behavioral_Health_0122_Layout 1 2 / 1 / 22 11 : 55 AM Page 1 atients have gotten used to hearing healthcare providers use the phrase continuum of care , and for good reason . A provider’s ability to offer a comprehensive range of services , to evolve Pwith patients along the various stops of their journey , and to take a compassionate approach to healing has led to better outcomes A NE W ERA IN andmore satisfying experiences for staff and patients alike . Yet , when it comes to behavioral health , the model can sometimes be difficult to find . Fortunately for those in Philadelphia and surrounding areas , a healthcare system with a rich history of providing personalized , evidence - based treatment for patients of all ages for the past 75 years has embraced the concept . Belmont Behavioral BehavioralHealth System has proven its commitment to a continuum of care with several major initiatives , including a $ 140 million hospital that opened last June . “ One of the things that attracted me to Belmont in the first place is that you really make an investment in the person and their wellness Health if you invest in the whole continuum of care , rather than one aspect of their treatment , ” says Laura Longstreet , who has been CEO for the past four years . “ I think it speaks volumes as a provider that With a recent expansion that includes a we’re very engaged with our patients and their families , and strive to new state - of - the - art hospital , the team at keepthem out of the hospital . The hospital is here should they need it , but we have great evidence - based treatments that have been hap - Belmont Behavioral Health System pening for years in our outpatient setting , and they’ve really informed our inpatient practice . ” proudly offers patients the full At Belmont , caregivers meet patients where they are , ensuring continuum of care . seamless transitions as their needs change , and offering appropriate programs to address patients ’ specific problems . That could mean BY M AT T CO S E N T I N O an inpatient stay at the hospital for a mental health or substance abuse disorder , a combination of traditional and innovative outpatient services , or access to the Philadelphia Children’s Crisis Response Center , the only one of its kind in the city . “ At this point with our expansions , we are the largest behavioral health provider in the area because we offer the full continuum , ” Longstreet says . “ A lot of people do the same work , but not under one system of care . ” Adria Filmore , Psy.D . , Belmont’s executive director of outpatient services , is proud of the organization’s commitment . Cutting - edge treatment options include cognitive behavior therapy ( CBT ) for depression and anxiety , parent - child interaction therapy ( PCIT ) for children presenting with challenging behaviors , and dialectical behavioral therapy ( DBT ) for severe trauma , among many others . “ One of the major improvements for outpatient that came with this expansion was the ability to offer higher levels of care , ” Dr . Filmore says . “ For many years , we focused on traditional outpatient services , such as weekly psychotherapy and psychiatry . We identified , however , that we needed something in between outpatient and inpatient services to support the transition for individuals , and were able to build IOP ( intensive outpatient programming ) and PHP ( partial hospitalization programs ) to fill that need . We’ve been able to expand for both children / adolescents and adults in that regard . ” For those who require an inpatient setting , the crown jewel of Belmont’s recent makeover is the six - story , state - of - the - art hospital , which increased its number of beds from 180 to 252 . Replacing its dark and dated predecessor , the sleek new facility has an abundance of windows and natural light , resulting in a much more inviting space . Artwork designed by patients and employees adorns the walls , and soothing colors can be found in patient rooms , along with modern amenities . The campus features specially designed sensory rooms to provide serenity for patients in moments of crisis , along with two outdoor healing gardens . Safety was also top of mind , with anti - ligature restrooms and showers and excellent lines of sight from nursing stations to the unit Belmont’sleadership team includes ( left to right ) and primary therapy spaces . Larger hallways and conference areas ExecutiveDirector of can accommodate group programs and employee collaboration , OutpatientServices Adria Filmore , Psy.D . , CEO and expanded offerings include an autism program and Laura Longstreet , and a neuromodulation unit with a suite for transcranial magnetic Chief Medical Officer stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy . FayezEl - Gabalawi , M.D . SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM VOLUME 13 ISSUE 5 16 |

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SL_PROFILE_Belmont_Behavioral_Health_0122_Layout 1 1 / 31 / 22 3 : 41 PM Page 2 Left to right : Sachin Mehta , M.D . , Fayez El - Gabalawi , M.D . , Laura Longstreet , Chioma Iheagwara , D.O . , and Jocelyn Lluberes , M.D . ? BelmontBehavioral Health System 4200 Monument Road | Philadelphia , PA 19131 ( 855 ) 588 - 9831 | BelmontBehavioral.com psychology pre - doctoral interns in DBT at the beginning of their time here , ” she says . “ They consult with me throughout the year regarding the application of this treatment , and they’re in all the levels of care using the interventions . Importantly , they get firsthand experience with this evidence - based , trauma - informed practice , Longstreet also notes the importance of an affiliation with which not only helps our patients but will prove to be a significant Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia ( CHOP ) to provide adolescent future asset as they go on to help others . ” and pediatric medical care , further strengthening the integration of Dr . El - Gabalawi is most proud when those students go on to dis - care . Finally , the hospital also includes New Oaks Academy , an tinguished careers in the field . Some of them even join Belmont . onsite private school for children to ensure that students do not fall “ When I see attending physicians operating here who were res - behind in their studies while receiving care . idents or students , and now they’re colleagues and doing their own “ We have a lot of individuals who wind up staying with us for work , it’s a tremendous reward , ” he says . “ It’s refreshing , and it extended periods of time — longer than what a traditional inpatient makes us feel like we’re on the right track when they adopt our phi - stay should look like for children and adolescents , ” Longstreet says . losophy in treatment and are helping others . ” “ It was an area of concern for the clinical teams , just how hard it At the end of the day , helping others is what drives the team at was for children to reintegrate into a school - based setting having Belmont . The recent expansions have made treatment for behavioral missed so much schooling . So , in November we were very pleased health more visible and accessible to the community , according to that we officially received licensure from the Pennsylvania Department Longstreet , and that means more people will feel motivated to get m of Education . ” the assistance they need . ste Speaking of education , Belmont has long had a stellar reputation “ We want to break down those walls and reduce the stigma Sy for teaching and training future clinicians . That role has only grown associated with people seeking treatment , because we all althknow in recent years through academic affiliations with Jefferson Health , somebody who can benefit from behavioral health treatment , ” she He Albert Einstein Medical Center , Philadelphia College of Osteopathic concludes . “ Behavioral health has been stigmatized for so long oralthat Medicine , and CHOP . people still get confused about how to access care . One of the things avi p ; “ This is a very active academic training place , which makes us we like about having the continuum is you can just make the call nla Beh distinguished from a lot of other psychiatric facilities in the area , ” and we’ll help you navigate the system to meet your uneeds . ” t D n says Fayez El - Gabalawi , M.D . , chief medical officer at Belmont and Longstreet cites the following organizations as instrumental lmoto ison also an associate professor of psychiatry at Thomas Jefferson the new hospital’s planning , design , and construction : Acadia Health - Al Be y University . “ We have a large number of trainees covering everything care , Johnson Johnson Crabtree Architects P.C . , and ALPA ofConstruction b y h from students to residents to fellows . We have a strong group of Inc . In addition , she says community support from the Wynnefield rtes rap physicians who are dedicated to teaching and mentoring . ” Heights Civic Association was vital to the hospital’s success , while tog ou Dr . Filmore cites the invaluable hands - on training Belmont the entire Belmont leadership team “ kept our vision for chigh - quality , pho rs provides to the next generation of clinicians . patient - centered care alive as we pushed through this project during the rio ? “ One of the highlights is training our psychiatry residents and a global pandemic . ” T o SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM VOLUME 13 ISSUE 5 | 17

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