Allegheny Health Network and Saint Vincent Open New Outpatient Behavioral Health Practice

ERIE - Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) Saint Vincent Hospital today cut the ribbon to a new outpatient behavioral health practice, located in the Yorktown Center in Erie at 2501 West 12^th Street, that will significantly expand the scope of the system’s behavior and mental health services for the Erie community.

The new AHN Behavioral Health program and its team of state-licensed therapists, advanced practice providers, and board certified child and adult psychiatrists, will provide outpatient behavioral and mental health services for people of all ages.

The program’s licensed therapists are specialty-trained in treating a wide variety of mental health conditions and will offer services not previously available in the greater Erie area.

“AHN Saint Vincent is committed to providing services that address the full spectrum of health and wellness needs in this community and our new behavioral health program is just the latest example of how we are delivering on that promise,” said Chris Clark, DO, AHN Saint Vincent President.  “Last year, we also launched the region’s first dedicated post-partum depression and women’s behavioral health program, and this new outpatient behavioral health program at Yorktown Center will further strengthen our ability to serve the broader population.”

Dr. Clark said the new program will provide patients with access to AHN’s Center for Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Unified Protocol Therapy, for treatment of a wide spectrum of mood and anxiety disorders, as well as to AHN’s Center for Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents.  Additionally, the new Yorktown Center program will serve as home base for AHN’s Chill Project implementation in Erie, an innovative service that will provide on-site and in-school behavioral and mental health services in Erie beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.

AHN Saint Vincent has a long history of providing inpatient behavioral health care for adults at its main hospital campus. The opening of a comprehensive outpatient behavioral health program will also help to better facilitate the transition of patients out of the inpatient setting, while continuing the care they need and their access to AHN’s team of caregivers.

“We are extremely happy to be further expanding the reach of our services and expertise in the greater Erie region,” said Anthony Mannarino, PH. D, Chair of AHN’s Psychiatric Institute. “The need for high-quality, comprehensive behavioral and mental health services in communities across our region and the nation has never been greater and both AHN and Highmark Health are committed to investing in the resources our patients and families need to help them address these challenges and live their best lives.”

Under Dr. Mannarino’s direction, AHN caregivers who will be based in Erie include two physicians, Dr. Timothy Yang, a child psychiatrist, and Dr. Lihui Tang, an adult psychiatrist, and four AHN therapists.

AHN is also excited to announce that the new practice will include one therapist from Family Services of Northwestern PA, part of a collaboration with Family Services to provide more coordinated care to patients who receive services through its Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic. Family Services uses a patient-centered behavioral services approach that aligns well with AHN and its primary health systems patient-centered approach. The collaboration will enable Family Services to offer more streamlined access to the services of AHN’s board-certified adult and child psychiatrists.

“Family Services of Northwestern PA has been a tremendous asset to our community for more than 100 years, helping individuals and families in the most difficult of circumstances. It is an organization that shares our values and mission, and we are proud to be working closely with them to deliver even more robust behavioral and mental health services to the people of this region,” said Dr. Clark.

“Family Services is eager to increase access and availability to high quality, patient centered, trauma-informed services through our collaboration with AHN,” said Greg Loop, President and CEO of Family Services of NW PA. “Our mission is to Strengthen Families and Transform Lives, and we are excited to be working with AHN to provide care to more families and individuals in our community.”

The new 6,072-square-foot facility at Yorktown Center includes a wellness room, two group therapy rooms, physician and staff offices, and separate adult and adolescent waiting rooms.

Construction for the $1.9 Million facility began in February.

Yorktown Center also houses AHN Dermatology West, Saint Vincent Endoscopy Center, Millcreek Family Practice, Niagara Internal Medicine, and The Occupational Health Center, all part of AHN Saint Vincent.

Family Services and AHN therapists will begin providing care in the next several weeks.  The AHN Behavioral Health program at Yorktown Center will offer appointments on weekdays and select evening hours. Parking is free and located immediately across from the facility.