$86M pediatric center near Grand Rapids clears key regulatory hurdle 

$86M pediatric center near Grand Rapids clears key regulatory hurdle 
A rendering of Pine Rest’s proposed $86 million pediatric behavioral center south of Grand Rapids. Credit: Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services expects to begin construction late this fall or early winter on an $86 million pediatric center after securing state regulatory approval for additional psychiatric beds. 

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services last week issued a certificate of need for 40 new licensed child and adolescent inpatient beds for the 66-bed Pediatric Behavioral Health Center. Pine Rest will also relocate 26 existing licensed beds from its Van Andel Center at the 68th Street campus in Cutlerville to the new pediatric center, which also will be located on the campus. 

While approval for the additional 40 beds was never in doubt, the final decision from the state on Pine Rest’s CON application clears a key regulatory hurdle for the project to proceed, Chief Operating Officer Bob Nykamp said. 

“It’s a big hurdle because the beds are the asset. You can’t build the center without the beds that are regulated by the state,” Nykamp said. “Now it feels like we’re really on our way.” 

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Pediatric care facility rendering
Pine Rest’s Pediatric Behavioral Health Center would include 66 beds in Cutlerville. Credit: Courtesy of Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

Planned in partnership with Corewell Health’s Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, the 134,840-square-foot Pediatric Behavioral Health Center on the Cutlerville campus will consist of three 22-bed units. When opened in late 2025 or early 2026, the two-story center will include an inpatient treatment facility for children and adolescents, psychiatric urgent care, a crisis stabilization unit, and specialty outpatient clinics to prevent mental health crises for conditions such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders. 

The state Department of Health and Human Services expedited its review of Pine Rest’s application for the 40 additional beds and issued the CON on July 31. 

“Everyone deserves access to quality health care where and when they need it,” said Elizabeth Hertel, director of the state Department of Health and Human Services. “These additional 40 beds will help families receive the care they deserve for their children and is part of the state’s commitment to ensuring access to behavioral health services for Michigan residents of all ages.” 

The center will expand the number of licensed child and adolescent inpatient beds at Pine Rest from 36 to 76 at the Cutlerville campus. Pine Rest plans to house another 26 “flex” beds at the center that can transition as needed from use between teens, young adults and adults. 

health care center
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services’ Van Andel Center in Cutlerville. Credit: Courtesy photo

As Pine Rest finalizes the center’s design and completes an environmental assessment on the project site, planning has begun on how to reuse the remaining 10 licensed child and adolescent beds at the Van Andel Center. That process includes focus groups with former patients, parents, pediatricians and others, Nykamp said. 

“Right now we’re talking about what specialty does the community need?” he said. “What else specifically do we need?” 

Eating disorders and autism are two areas “that come to the top of the list,” he said. 

Pine Rest forecasts that the Pediatric Behavioral Health Center, along with planned service expansions and new care models, will expand inpatient care by 3,000 children annually and by 10,000 for outpatient care. 

Meanwhile, Pine Rest will continue a $50 million capital campaign for the project. The capital campaign remains in a “quiet” phase with appeals to potential major donors across the state. Pine Rest also has requested a $25 million grant from the state from funding that’s available through a $50 million appropriation in the present 2023 fiscal year budget to expand behavioral health capacity in Michigan amid rising incidence rates for mental health, particularly for anxiety and depression 

“That would be another big boost to the project,” Nykamp said. 

The state previously committed $36 million toward the Pediatric Behavioral Health Center. Crain’s Grand Rapids reported in June that the original $62 million cost of the project had grown to $86 million based on staff recruiting needs, more outpatient capabilities and inflationary pressure on construction materials. 

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