Centra Marks Major Milestone With New Behavioral Health Hospital in Lynchburg

New 72-bed facility on Simons Run Medical Campus is expected to open this summer and expand regional mental health services

Centra and Lifepoint Behavioral Health marked a major milestone Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Centra Behavioral Health Hospital, a 72-bed facility on the Simons Run Medical Campus that is expected to open later this summer.

The hospital represents the first of two specialty hospitals planned for the campus and is part of Centra’s broader multi-year modernization initiative, described by the health system as the largest facilities and technology investment in its nearly 40-year history.

Located at 1155 Simons Run in Lynchburg, the new behavioral health hospital expands Centra’s behavioral health capacity by 25% and is designed to serve patients with a wide range of psychiatric and substance use needs, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis and co-occurring substance abuse concerns.

The more than 60,000-square-foot facility includes open community spaces, private patient rooms, therapy areas and an outdoor courtyard designed to support healing and recovery in both individual and group treatment settings.

“The opening of Centra Behavioral Health Hospital represents a meaningful step forward for our community,” said Richard Tugman, president and CEO of Centra. “By expanding access to specialized behavioral health services, we are directly addressing a longstanding need across central Virginia.”

Centra officials say the hospital will utilize a multidisciplinary care team that includes nurses, psychiatrists, therapists and behavioral health technicians. Treatment programs will focus on evidence-based therapies designed to improve both short- and long-term mental health outcomes.

Taylor Davis, chief executive officer of the new hospital, said the partnership and modern facility will help strengthen behavioral health care access across the region.

“I know that with the depth in expertise we have through this partnership, and with the benefit of a new, modern facility, we will be able to bring the kind of care that drives healthier and more resilient communities,” Davis said.

Lifepoint Behavioral Health, an operating division of Lifepoint Health, will manage daily operations at the facility. The organization currently operates 25 free-standing behavioral health hospitals nationwide.

Nicki Tessler, president of Lifepoint Behavioral Health, called the project an important partnership focused on improving emotional health services throughout Central Virginia.

Later this summer, the second specialty facility on the campus — Centra Rehabilitation Hospital — is also expected to begin operations as part of the continuing Simons Run Medical Campus expansion.