Seven Sarah Bush Lincoln services moving to Lincoln Avenue Building in Charleston
CHARLESTON — Sarah Bush Lincoln has moved seven services into the approximately 33,000-square-foot renovated former call center building at 700 W. Lincoln Ave.
Child psychiatry, employee assistance program, integrated behavioral health, neuropsychology, and psychiatry and counseling clinic services opened on Monday in the 11,792-square-foot Suite 200, Entrance B, of what is now the SBL Lincoln Avenue Building. Hospice and home care offices are set to move on Tuesday and Wednesday into 6,490-square-foot Suite 100, Entrance A.
SBL Clinic Director Leslie Jansen said the mental health services that are now together in Suite 200 were previously spread out, including integrated behavioral health and neuropsychology being in the main hospital building and child psychiatry being in Prairie Pavilion 2. She said the new consolidated location will be more convenient for patients and provide more opportunities for staff collaboration.
"It will just make for better patient care overall," Jansen said, noting that the new offices will be roomier than the ones that mental health services had outgrown on the main campus. "We are all about creating safe spaces for the patients and getting them the best care."
Jansen said those spaces will include a sensory room for working with young children, an observation room that is large enough to accommodate families or other group therapy sessions, and soft rounded furniture that is weighted to ensure safety.
The mental health services at the Lincoln Avenue building will have more than 25 staff members, including integrated behavioral health Dr. John Lauer. He takes referrals from primary care providers and makes recommendations to them. This facility also will include office space for 25-27 home care and hospice staff, who will provide patient care off site.
Regarding space, the Lincoln Avenue Building's 3,154-square-foot Suite 300 will be used as unassigned common areas with an employee break room. This leaves 11,000 square feet still available for possible future use.
"It was really designed to grow and provided additional services in the future," Jansen said, adding that the new facility also has freed up space on the main campus.
This newly renovated building, which Sarah Bush Lincoln purchased in 2021, previously had been used as a call center that was originally developed by Consolidated Market Response, which was then acquired by Solix Inc. in 2010.
Colleen Peterlich, president and chief executive officers of the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce, said the building at 700 W. Lincoln Ave. has been a good, long-term location for various business over time, going back to when this facility housed an IGA supermarket decades ago. She said she hopes it fits SBL's needs for many years to come.
Peterlich said SBL's renovations have improved the appearance of a building that was already in good shape and added to the welcoming appearance of the west side of Charleston along Lincoln/Illinois 16.
"The fact that they have renovated and reused it, I think it's a great idea," Peterlich said.
Contact Rob Stroud at (217) 238-6861.
