New west Wichita geriatric psychiatric hospital opens this month

The response to Corterra Healthcare Ventures’ new 24-bed geriatric psychiatric hospital, which opens late this month on the west side, has chairman Erik Hatten feeling some conflicting emotions.

“We thought this would be a very good solution for the community,” he said of helping seniors through temporary behavioral health issues.

“But it’s also heartbreaking,” Hatten said of the overwhelming need.

He said there have been more than 250 referral calls for Corterra of Wichita since March from local physicians, health facilities and families seeking help for seniors.

“The majority will come from senior living entities that are in and around the area.”

Construction is completed at the 21,000-square-foot facility at 7447 W. Village Circle, which is in North Ridge Pointe, near K-96 and Ridge Road, and Corterra is finalizing staffing and conducting training.

“We’re designed to be a short-stay solution,” Hatten said.

The hospital will help people who have issues related to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, such as those who are having physical outbursts.

Hatten said the plan is “to get them back to their previous level.”

The rooms are all private. Hatten said most stays will be in the range of 10 to 14 days.

“We’ll keep them as long as needed.”

Hatten expects to help between 400 and 500 people a year. There eventually will be outpatient services as well.

Also, Hatten wants Corterra to be a resource for places such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the area to alleviate some of the pressures they face when caring for seniors.

Hatten at one time was CEO for Via Christi Villages and said he’s seen all aspects of care for seniors. He said his own providers faced issues when mental health situations arose, and he’s seen that at other senior care facilities as well.

After doing an initial assessment of needs and services in the area, Hatten said he found a high need and a substantial lack of services.

Hatten said he began thinking of the idea for the hospital after running a Tennessee company that had a division that included a senior psychiatric hospital similar to what Corterra will be.

Partners include Corterra Healthcare Partners, a consultant to providers and payors of senior healthcare here and in other states, and Scenic Development, which has 11 senior care housing communities in Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.

Last year, the Wichita City Council approved $8.85 million in industrial revenue bonds to pay for the $10 million Corterra building and equipment along with up to 10 years of sales and property tax abatement. The taxes won’t have to be paid back as long as Corterra meets certain criteria.

Hatten said Corterra of Wichita will be the flagship hospital of what will become a chain of them around Kansas and the Heartland.

He said he hopes to start more soon but wants to build a strong foundation with the initial one first.

As Hatten said last year when announcing Corterra, it’s all about helping the people who helped build the United States.

“That’s really the history of our country.”

This story was originally published June 6, 2023 at 12:40 PM.