Expanding Care in Kensington: Temple University Hospital's Episcopal Campus Enhancements
Temple University Hospital's Episcopal Campus, situated in the Kensington neighborhood, is undergoing a significant $12 million expansion. This project aims to improve and expand vital services, including those for substance use disorders, emergency care, and behavioral health. The expansion demonstrates Temple Health's commitment to meeting the evolving healthcare needs of the community it serves.
Enhanced Emergency Services
A core component of the expansion is a $5.6 million project focused on the hospital's emergency department. This will add 10 new treatment bays, increasing the total to 29. The Episcopal Campus emergency room is a critical resource for the surrounding neighborhoods, handling over 40,000 visits annually, addressing a wide range of medical emergencies, from chest pain and gunshot wounds to drug overdoses.
Crisis Response Center Redesign
Recognizing the increasing need for behavioral health services, the crisis response center will undergo a $7 million redesign, tripling its existing space. This expansion will enable the facility to better manage its 12,000+ annual patient visits and increase the number of patients it can treat for behavioral health needs at any given time. The redesigned center is expected to open in November on a new floor. The larger space will enable the crisis center to more effectively deal with the complex nature of its patients' needs and an increased volume of those who need care, said Yvette Valiente, senior director of facility services at Temple's Episcopal Campus.
L.J. Rasi, director of behavioral health at Temple University Hospital, explained that "the bigger space will actually improve the workflow, and it should result in decreased wait times and decreased duration of stay," adding that the previous space was inadequate for the volume of patients. The crisis response center offers 24-hour psychiatric emergency service where people with behavioral health crises can receive treatment to stabilize their conditions before moving to the next level of care. The $7 million expansion is being funded in part through a $3 million grant from Pennsylvania's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
Addressing the Opioid Crisis: A New Outpatient Clinic
The expansion includes a new outpatient clinic specifically designed for individuals with substance use disorders. This clinic provides an immediate treatment option for patients in the emergency room or crisis response center who decide they want to enter or continue substance use disorder treatment, keeping them from falling away during sometimes otherwise long wait times for a bed. It also treats patients with co-occurring mental health issues and substance use disorder.
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Patrick Vulgamore, director of Temple Health’s Addiction Medicine Service Line, highlighted the critical need for such services, stating, "There's a huge gap in Philadelphia for the treatment of the co-occurring population," adding that “In the substance use disorder clinic, they're able to help patients with medications for addiction as well as medications for psychiatric complications."
The clinic also has two psychiatrists and 10 certified recovery specialists - people in recovery for substance use disorder who provide mentoring, advocacy and support services to patients. The substance use clinic's medical director also staffs the crisis response center, so patients who move from there to the outpatient setting have a sense of consistency, Vulgamore said.
Comprehensive Services at Temple University Hospital - Episcopal Campus
Beyond the expansion, Temple University Hospital - Episcopal Campus offers a wide range of medical services to the community:
- Behavioral Health: As the main location for Temple University Hospital's behavioral health services, the Episcopal Campus provides comprehensive mental health care.
- Cardiology Imaging and Testing: Offering on-site cardiac testing services, including ECHO, nuclear and non-nuclear stress tests, EKG, and Holter monitoring, to help diagnose heart problems. Experienced personnel conduct these tests, and patients receive timely, accurate results.
- Crisis Response Center: The Crisis Response Center (CRC) at TUH - Episcopal Campus is a psychiatric emergency service that sees more than 10,000 patients each year. The CRC serves individuals in crisis with psychiatric and/or substance-related conditions.
- Diabetes Program: Provides resources and support for individuals to manage their diabetes through Temple’s Real World Diabetes Program.
- Emergency Services & Minor Care: The emergency department is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If required, the department can provide patients with fast access to specialized doctors and services at Temple University Hospital - Main Campus. We also offer a Minor Care Center for the treatment of less serious illnesses and injuries.
- Inpatient Medical Unit: A 21-bed inpatient medical/telemetry unit for patients requiring short hospital stays.
- Laboratory Services: Offers a wide array of laboratory testing services, provided by Temple University Hospital that can help detect and monitor disease. Lab personnel provide test results quickly and accurately. Appointments are not needed.
- Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB/GYN): Temple physicians provide gynecological and obstetrical care for women across all phases of life - from the teenage years through menopause.
- Pediatrics: Temple doctors provide preventive and primary care for infants, children and teenagers up to age 18. They diagnose and treat illnesses while counseling parents on how to be active participants in their child's healthcare.
- Physical Therapy: Offers outpatient physical therapy services with licensed therapists who work with doctors to develop specific programs to address medical issues.
- Primary Care: Temple primary care doctors provide general medical care for adults. Our doctors focus on preventing disease and keeping you healthy.
- Radiology: TUH - Episcopal Campus offers a wide range of on-site radiology services, including ultrasound, X-ray, MRI, CT scan, digital mammography and nuclear medicine.
- Wound Care: The Advanced Wound Care program at TUH - Episcopal Campus is solely focused on healing all types of wounds, including those that are chronic or non-healing.
- Telemedicine: Offers telemedicine appointments for a wide range of primary care and specialty services.
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