Providing much needed comprehensive and compassionate care for people with behavioral health problems in Southwest Florida will be one step closer to reality on Monday, April 4, with a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Park Royal Psychiatric Hospital.

Scheduled for completion in February 2012, Park Royal Hospital will be licensed for 76 inpatient beds and include several outpatient programs, significantly increasing the amount of treatment options available for residents of Southwest Florida requiring behavioral health care. The hospital will serve adults, age 18 and up, and will have a special focus on providing geriatric services for Southwest Florida’s aging population.

“Park Royal is committed to becoming a community partner in the behavioral medicine segment of the healthcare system, and we are pleased to start this final step in bringing this hospital to the people of Southwest Florida” said Park Royal Hospital President Jim Harper. “We are also very humbled to be at this significant event as the result of many other community leaders who understood the need and trusted our ability to help bring this hospital here.”

The new 72,200 square foot state-of-the-art hospital will be located on the campus of HealthPark Medical Center in south Lee County. When completed, the hospital will be a LEED certified facility, incorporating the latest in energy saving technology.

Park Royal Hospital’s parent company has been partnering with Lee Memorial Health System in operating the Senior Behavioral Health Center at Lee Memorial Hospital, a 15-bed psychiatric unit for geriatric patients. Park Royal and Lee Memorial also jointly operate the Intensive Outpatient Behavioral Health Center for patients requiring intensive follow-up services and the Outpatient Behavioral Health Center for those requiring less intense services.

“Park Royal has proven to be a dynamic partner in providing behavioral health services in Southwest Florida,” said Jim Nathan, president and CEO of Lee Memorial Health System. “We are very pleased they will be at the helm as we take the next step in providing services with the completion of Park Royal Hospital.”

Groundbreaking Details

Date: Monday, April 4, 2011

Time: 1:30 p.m.

Location: 9241 Park Royal Drive

Fort Myers, Florida

(Between Bass and Summerlin Roads, across from HealthPark Medical Center)