Lurie expands inpatient psychiatric unit amid ongoing youth mental health care shortage

Lurie expands inpatient psychiatric unit amid ongoing youth mental health care shortage

Lurie Children’s Hospital added four beds and 20 new staffers to the hospital's renovated inpatient psychiatric unit as a part of a statewide effort to address a major shortage of mental health care for Illinois kids in crisis.The beds are specifically tailored toward kids with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities and significant behavioral health needs, said Heidi Mueller, the director of the Illinois Department of Children and F…