(Omaha/Council Bluffs) – According to American Hospital Directory data, there is a shortfall of more than 300 inpatient behavioral health beds in Iowa and Nebraska. To address this need, officials with Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and Acadia Healthcare, Tuesday, announced plans to build a state-of-the-art behavioral health hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The 96-bed hospital will include 24 inpatient beds dedicated to serving the mental health needs of children and adolescents, as well as provide outpatient services. This new facility will be a center of excellence, addressing the growing unmet need for accessible, high-quality behavioral health services in the region. (See computer renderings of the future facility below. Click on the images to enlarge.)

Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital is an affiliate of Omaha-based Methodist Health System. Pending regulatory approval, the hospital is anticipated to open in 2026. It will be operated through a joint venture partnership between Jennie Edmundson and Acadia, the largest standalone provider of behavioral health care services in the U.S. Together, the organizations will invest more than $55 million in expanding behavioral health resources in the region.

Methodist CEO and President David Burd says “This hospital will be a tremendous resource, and this partnership will help strengthen our level of expertise and implement proven best practices while enhancing the quality and number of behavioral health services available to patients throughout the area.”

Jennie Edmundson and Acadia are in the process of securing land for the hospital and will announce the location at a later date. Construction will begin once all regulatory approvals are obtained. Chris Hunter, CEO for Acadia Healthcare says “The new hospital will increase lifesaving services for individuals and families in the region. We look forward to partnering with local communities to bring hope and healing to those in need.”

This purposefully designed behavioral health hospital is anticipated to include large treatment rooms for group therapy sessions, centralized nursing stations to provide open lines of sight to all common areas, high ceilings and large windows to capitalize on natural light, serene outdoor spaces and high-tech features. Ultimately, this will allow patients from western Iowa and eastern Nebraska access to the services they need in an environment that promotes peace and well-being.