Stewart Memorial Hospital and Clinics celebrated the opening of its new Behavioral Health Services space this past Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at the Lake City Clinic. Community members, staff, health care leaders, and local officials gathered at the newly renovated space on May 8 to tour the facility and learn about the hospital’s expanding behavioral health services. Special guests joined hospital leaders in discussing the importance of expanding behavioral health care in rural communities, including District 7 State Rep. Wendy Larson and Sen. Grassley’s Regional Director, Jacob Bossman. Many rural Iowans often face barriers to mental health care, including provider shortages, transportation challenges, and long wait times, and hospital leadership says this renovation will help address the region’s growing needs. The new Pod D space includes three therapist offices, a private waiting area, a play therapy room, and a parent/child interaction therapy room with an observation space. Stewart Memorial’s behavioral health program has grown from a single therapist in 2023 to five therapists and two medication providers serving patients across the system’s rural clinics.
