Denver Health’s new Integrative Medical and Psychiatric Care Unit (IMAP) is a first in Colorado and one of few in the United States. The 12-bed unit brings together medical and behavioral healthcare specialists in one collaborative setting to better treat patients ages 18 and up who have complex needs.
Fewer than 3 percent of U.S. hospitals have a unit like IMAP, which is carefully designed for patient and provider safety.
“Patients who have congestive heart failure and schizophrenia can get the care that they need here,” said Dr. Christian Thurstone, chairman of Behavioral Health at Denver Health. “Before this existed, we would try to figure it out. Should this patient be on a psychiatric floor, or should they be on a medical floor? Neither is really ideal because (these patients) need both medical and psychiatric care. Every detail (of IMAP) had to be so carefully planned out … This will reduce the overall length of stay. This is going to reduce the cost of medical care.”
The new unit is made possible through Denver County voters’ 2024 approval of ballot measure 2Q, a 0.34% sales tax (just over 3 cents on every $10 purchase) that supports provision of behavioral health services.
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