HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Two longtime local health care providers are merging in July. Brook Lane and Meritus Health are partnering to commit to expanding access to mental health services in the region and across the state. The definitive agreement comes after months of formal due diligence by both organizations and their respective boards of directors.
“As demand for mental health supports and services continues to grow and we consider the best opportunities to support the health of our entire community, welcoming Brook Lane into our organization is an opportunity for two strong organizations to enhance access to services and provide more coordinated care for patients,” said Dr. Maulik Joshi, president and CEO of Meritus Health.
Joshi said Meritus Health and Brook Lane have a longstanding tradition of partnering in the community, and in September 2023, the health care providers teamed up to open a mental health emergency room at the Meritus Health campus on Robinwood Drive in Hagerstown.
“We looked at local and statewide needs and identified ways to pool resources to rapidly support those needs,” Joshi said. “We understand the strength of working together and look forward to our next chapter in providing mental health services and education to our community.”
Joshi said he and Brook Lane CEO Jeffrey D. O’Neill, MBA, LCPC, FACHE, have been discussing over the past few months how they can leverage the strengths of their respective organizations to better meet the current and future mental health needs of the region and statewide.
O’Neill and Joshi outlined an expanded mental health model that combines resources to expand levels of access to care, positioning the organization as one of the largest and most accessible in the country. Once combined, the community will have access to integrated clinical services including a total of 80 inpatient beds, a psychiatry training program, advanced residential crisis program, day treatment programs for children, adolescents and adults, substance abuse treatment services, mental health urgent care, mental health telehealth visits, two Type III and Type I school programs, school-based therapists, an interventional psychiatry program and an employee assistance program serving 12 organizations. Combined, 25 providers, 105 licensed therapists, 115 dedicated nursing staff and 20 teachers will be dedicated to supporting mental health services.
This model combines resources to achieve clinical excellence as well as align cultural and community values.
“Meritus and Brook Lane share our community-centered values and vision for improving the health of our neighbors,” O’Neill said. “Partnering with Meritus will ensure our organization has the support we need to grow and expand while also maintaining our tradition of providing compassionate mental and behavioral health services.”
According to both leaders, the partnership will not result in job losses, but Brook Lane team members will be transferred to a more competitive Meritus pay structure, and the two organizations will work together over time to evaluate the best opportunities to expand mental health services.
“This partnership will undoubtedly improve access to health care in our community,” Joshi said. “We look forward to next steps as we work together to plan and envision how we can most effectively enhance services and education.”
