A new emergency mental health unit being built at Howard County General Hospital is on track to open at the end of January, hospital spokeswoman Sharon Sopp said.
Construction of the Behavioral Emergency Unit began in August and, when completed, will help the hospital deal with an influx of psychiatric patients.
The 1,920-square-foot, 10-bed facility was expected to cost about $775,000, and the construction has stayed on track, Sopp said.
Psychiatric emergency patients currently are being treated in the emergency room, and the new facility is expected to offer more privacy. Hospital officials have said the hospital has seen a 40 percent increase in psychiatric evaluations over the past two years.
