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Board authorizes negotiations with architects for 16‑bed crisis center to relieve ED boarding
Summary
After reviewing hospital data showing heavy behavioral-health ED use, commissioners authorized staff to negotiate with Holland & Hamrick for architectural and engineering services for a 16‑bed facility‑based crisis center, budgeted at $6.5M with an estimated opening in 2028.
Health and behavioral‑health leaders told the board Burke County is seeing high emergency‑department volume tied to psychiatric and overdose cases and recommended building a local facility for short‑term stabilization.
"We found over 1,000 behavioral health and substance use ED visits," Dr. Katie Samuels said, citing one year of hospital data (about 860 psychiatric visits and 200 overdose/adverse reaction visits) and long ED boarding times. The recommended model is a 16‑bed facility capable of voluntary and involuntary commitment (IVC) assessments with an average stay of 7–14 days; the project includes medical monitoring and a detox/stabilization program to divert patients from the ED.
An RFQ produced six proposals; the evaluation team (which included county staff and clinical partners) scored Holland & Hamrick highest and invited top firms for interviews. Samuels said Holland & Hamrick’s experience and track record of delivering projects within the county’s budget and timeline made them the recommendation. Commissioners authorized staff to enter contract negotiations with Holland & Hamrick for A&E services under their RFQ and to execute agreements subject to county‑attorney review. The projected construction and licensure timeline included a target opening in September 2028.
