Plans for the transfer of University of Maryland Shore Behavioral Health’s Inpatient Care Unit from UM Shore Medical Center at Dorchester to UM Shore Medical Center at
Easton have begun., “As our newly renovated and secured, 12-bed unit on the third floor of the Easton hospital is being readied for occupancy, we are making plans for the transition period, August 25 through September 9,” said Laurence Pezor, MD, Medical Director, UM Shore Behavioral Health. “We have notified our community partners and referral sources that as of August 25, we will discontinue involuntary psychiatric admissions at
the Dorchester hospital, and as of September 1, we will discontinue voluntary psychiatric admissions. Both
types of admission will resume on September 9 at UM Shore Medical Center in Easton.”
Patients needing assessment for behavioral health issues may still present at any UM Shore Regional
Health Emergency Department for evaluation by the Behavioral Health Response Team (BHRT). This team
is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide mental health and substance abuse evaluations
and referrals for adults and children in need. Patients needing inpatient behavioral health care during the
transition will be referred to other community providers.
In addition to inpatient care and rapid assessments for behavioral health issues in emergency care settings,
UM Shore Behavioral Health provides a Mental Health Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). When the new
UM Shore Regional Health at Cambridge opens in late September 2021, the Mental Health IOP will
relocate to this new facility along with a separate suite of three designated behavioral health beds adjacent
to the Emergency Department for patients needing assessment, observation and/or care prior to admission
for inpatient care.
”Our team of providers, nurses, therapists, licensed clinical social workers, certified addiction counselors
and other support staff is committed to delivering compassionate, community based care to those in need
of behavioral health services,” said Dr. Pezor. “We are looking forward to moving into our new space in the
Easton hospital and continuing our tradition of evidence-based practice and our integrated, collaborative
approach to supporting patients in their recovery journey.”