Local officials are looking forward to Friday’s groundbreaking for the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center calling it a significant medical gain for Odessa and Midland.
The new center is a joint project of Medical Center Hospital and Midland Memorial Hospital and partially funded through 2021 state legislation that included $40 million for the new center. Private funds continue to be raised for the center that will offer mental health services for all ages.
Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis said he looks forward to the new center and that it will be a game changer for Permian Basin residents and his staff. Deputies currently have to drive those who need mental health services to other cities — sometimes a 300 mile round trip depending on what facility has an open bed.
“First and foremost, it is much safer to be able to drive 20 miles instead of a 300 mile round trip,” Griffis said. “The important thing is that this will be a venue to get people who need mental health services more quickly and with better quality as it will be right here in our own community.”
Griffis thanked all those involved with making the center a reality. “It is fantastic for our community and long overdo and kudos to all who got this going.”
Griffis will likely join other locals for the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center groundbreaking ceremony, which is is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at 1310 N. FM 1788. Shuttles from the Wagner Noël parking lot will deliver guests to the site.
The legislation that funded the initial $40 million was sponsored by State Reps. Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) and Tom Craddick (R-Midland).
Landgraf said after recent discussions with hospital officials, they expect to receive the first patient at the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center in early 2025 and that the mental health facility will include inpatient and outpatient care across all age groups.
Landgraf said the entire Permian Basin has a severe shortage of mental health services, providers and facilities. Medical Center CEO Russell Tippin reached out to Landgraf with the idea for a regional behavioral health hospital that he was working on with his counterpart at Midland Memorial. “I jumped on board immediately and began fighting successfully to secure state funds. I’m excited that ground is being broken for construction of this desperately-needed behavioral health center, and I’m proud of what happens when hospitals, communities and lawmakers work together for a common goal to improve the quality of life in West Texas.”
Tippin said the planned opening of the facility will be the beginning of increased healthcare in West Texas. “This is going to be a center that will meet probably the biggest gap in healthcare in West Texas and will fill a huge need.”
Tippin said there are other West Texas providers who are “doing everything they can possibly do but this is a major investment in the future and will serve the area well.”
He said the new center will cut down on wait times in emergency rooms in West Texas and that people who need mental health services can get their needs met quickly and also not tie up ER’s in the area.
Currently, Tippin said, mental health patients are sent to any facility that has an open bed. “That is the problem. If you use San Angelo you are waiting for them to have a bed after they have served their San Angelo patients. What will be nice is this entity will serve the Permian Basin people first.”
