Beaufort Memorial begins work on ER mental health crisis stabilization unit

Construction has begun on a new crisis stabilization unit in the Beaufort Memorial Pratt Emergency Center, offering a calm space away from the bustle of the ER where staff will assess, treat and monitor patients experiencing a mental health crisis. 

This type of unit, becoming known around the nation as an “EmPATH unit” (Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing Unit), provides both voluntary and involuntary mental health services for patients experiencing a psychiatric emergency with the goals of speeding time to treatment, decreasing length of time spent in the ER and improving safety for both patient and staff. 

The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) reports that typically 70-80% of psychiatric emergencies can be stabilized in less than 24 hours. Because ERs often lack the resources an EmPATH unit can provide, psychiatric patients often wait three times longer than other patients to receive emergency care. 

“The new facility improvements are a part of Beaufort Memorial’s ongoing efforts to ensure that we are providing the highest level of care and patient safety possible, while serving a growing number of patients with mental health concerns,” said Russell Baxley, Beaufort Memorial president and CEO. 

The secluded unit will include two patient care rooms, one consultation room and a recliner bay. Patients will be able to freely move about in the quiet, calm environment separate from the busy ER atmosphere while monitored by psychiatric-trained nurses, doctors and staff. 

The EmPATH unit concept was created by emergency psychiatry expert Dr. Scott Zeller to help patients experiencing serious mental health emergencies receive care in a more streamlined, timely manner. This unit, which aims to provide a more therapeutic environment for these patients, allows them quicker access to the proper mental health care and allows a psychiatric emergency to be stabilized in a manner of hours. 

The crisis stabilization unit is funded through a $1.1 million grant from the SCDHHS and a $23,275 grant from Women in Philanthropy. Beaufort Memorial was one of 13 South Carolina hospitals awarded a grant in 2023 to build this unit. 

“Having this unit will be a game changer both for patients and emergency department staff,” said LeeAnne Smith, MSN, RN, Beaufort Memorial behavior health service line director. “An emergency room is often not the ideal setting for someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis. So, being able to welcome them into a separate, more tranquil area where trained staff can be dedicated to their care will improve outcomes.” 

Beaufort Memorial is the only hospital in Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton Counties with an in-patient mental health unit. The unit has 18 beds and serves adults 18 years of age and older. In addition, BMH serves as the psychiatric health care service provider to the Beaufort County Detention Center, providing evaluation and treatment to an average of 60 inmates per day. 

Construction on this unit began in mid-February 2025. Learn more about Beaufort Memorial's ongoing construction projects in Beaufort, Bluffton and on Hilton Head Island.