ROCHESTER — Zumbro Valley Health Center has completed a space expansion for its intensive residential treatment program in Rochester.
The program won’t add more beds, but rather aims to ensure all 16 beds are available for patients, said Beth Krehbiel, CEO of Zumbro Valley Health Center.
“Our census was closer to 14, not 16, so that’s pretty significant,” Krehbiel said.
The problem, Krehbiel said, was the building’s original layout: It originally had two double bedrooms, but the project split those into four single rooms.
“It’s hard for siblings to live in the same room, so when you have someone with a mental illness that’s very challenging, it’s very difficult to find a roommate to live in the same room,” Krehbiel said.
The project also includes a 1,200-square-foot addition to the health center’s main campus at 343 Wood Lake Drive SE in Rochester. Krehbiel said ZVHC has added living space and two group therapy rooms in the new space.
Previously, “we only had one therapy room,” Krehbiel said, “so a lot of things were happening in one space. … Now we have rooms for meditation, yoga and other healing activities.”
A federal grant through the office of Minnesota Democratic Sen. Tina Smith provided $676,000 for the expansion project, which was announced in June 2023. The remaining $100,000 in costs was covered by the health center.
“This is really great,” Krehbiel said of the grant. “It’s a fantastic opportunity.”
Contributor / ZVHC
The residential treatment program will house 14 patients with diagnoses including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for up to 90 days to receive mental health treatment.
“These costs are paid for primarily through medical aid,” Krehbiel said. “The primary goal of the program is to provide a safe environment where patients can learn skills to manage their emotions, take their medication, and in some cases connect with other services such as therapy or psychiatry.”
The remaining two beds are for short-term stays of up to 10 days for people experiencing a mental health crisis.
The residential program renewal coincides with ZVHC expanding into the former Northgate Health Club building at 1112 Seventh St. NW. Krehbiel said ZVHC will be operating at that location since December 2023.
“At Northgate, we treat seven or eight groups a day and are well positioned to meet the growing demand for mental health and substance use (treatment),” Krehbiel said.
Contributor / ZVHC
Contributor / ZVHC
