AUGUSTA, GA - The partnership between the Georgia Department of Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) will continue to fulfill its three part mission to provide excellent clinical care, innovative educational methods and an opportunity to lead in research and development with the opening of the Dedicated Educational Unit (DEU) at East Central Regional Hospital (ECRH) on November 17, 2010 at noon. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the DEU, building #14 on the Augusta Campus, located at 3405 Mike Padgett Hwy. in Augusta, GA.

The celebration will launch the initiative of an interdisciplinary approach in the education of medical students, psychiatry residents, psychology interns and fellows, nursing students, and allied health professionals using a dedicated education unit model. The one year anniversary of the MCG-ECRH Partnership will also be recognized during the ceremony.

Several guests, including Dr. Frank E. Shelp, DBHDD Commissioner; Dr. Peter Buckley, Interim Dean of Medicine (MCG); Dr. Lucy Marion, Dean of the College of Nursing (MCG); and Dr. Stewart Shevitz, Interim Chair Psychiatry (MCG) are expected to attend.

The Dedicated Educational Unit is housed in a renovated building which adds ten beds to the capacity of ECRH. This will help to accommodate the larger catchment area and increased referral volumes due to the closure of mental health inpatient services at Central State Hospital in Milledgeville. The renovation of the unit involved the Consumer Advisory Council which is comprised of patients, former patients, and family members. Their input was solicited on the layout and decor of the unit.

East Central Regional Hospital is one of seven state hospitals which provide services for the developmentally disabled and mentally ill. The hospital is located on two campuses in the Augusta area.

Contact Information:

Kristie Swink ([email protected])