Construction to begin on $2M psychiatric hospital in Richland for higher levels of care
A psychiatric clinic is building a much-needed 16-bed hospital in the Richland Wye area.
Reliance Health Systems is adding the $2 million hospital as it expands to offer in-patient treatment in addition to its existing suite of out-patient offerings.
Reliance, led by Kishore Varada and daughter Veda Varada, is developing the small hospital at 1449 Spaulding Ave. The facility is across from Reliance’s existing offices, south of the Columbia Center area.
The 4,200-square-foot single-story hospital is being built on a foundation Reliance laid years ago when it first built clinical facilities, including its four-story office building along Fowler Drive.
Higher levels of care, at home
The new psychiatric facility will offer inpatient care for adults age 18 and over who are admitted on a voluntary basis.
It will emphasize round-the-clock care for those needing higher levels of care for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and suicidal thoughts.
It will offer stabilization services for patients in crisis, including manic episodes.
The hospital will provide medical clearance prior to full admission, intake evaluations, individual and group therapy, medication management and other technical but noninvasive treatments.
In the future, Reliance plans to add a psychiatric medical center to serve children on the same property.
Kishore Varada trained as a medical doctor in his native India and practiced in Nigeria before moving to the U.S. to marry his wife, a Tri-Cities resident.
He trained as a PA-C or Physician Assistant Certified at the University of Washington. He began Reliance about 17 years ago. Veda Varada is also a PA-C and is preparing to step into the role of medical director.
FDA approved treatments
The existing clinic provides comprehensive outpatient mental health care, including TMS or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and evaluations for ADHD, as well as counseling and traditional therapies.
Varada said Reliance only offers services and medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
For instance, ketamine has been popularized as treatment for depression, but the FDA does not approve its use to treat psychiatric disorders. “We don’t do that,” he said.
The new adult hospital is expected to open in 2025. Reliance services are typically covered by insurance.
The need is clear, he said.
There are 32 beds at Lourdes Behavioral Health in Richland (formerly Carondelet) and they’re usually full. Patients must wait months for beds to open elsewhere, and they’re often not paired with suitable treatment.
“It’s needed here,” he said.
Washington ranked 41st in the nation for the mental illness and access to care, according to the 2024 State of Mental Health in America, an annual publication of Mental Health America. The Northwest fared low overall: Idaho ranked 45th, Oregon 47th and Montana 49th.
An estimated 5% of adults reported experiencing serious thoughts of suicide, the report said.
In-patient v. out-patient
Reliance’s psychiatric hospital is distinct from plans to create the Columbia Valley Center for Recovery, a residential substance use treatment facility being advanced by Benton and Franklin counties at the former Kennewick General Hospital.
It could be ready by the end of 2025. The Tri-Cities currently is the state’s only metro without a detox or residential treatment facility for addiction.
Varada sees opportunity to partner with the recovery center.
Reliance sees patients with addiction issues at its outpatient clinic. He sees an opportunity to refer patients who need inpatient care to the recovery center and to provide post-release treatment as well..
Kaizen Construction and Development is the contractor on the Varadas’ new project.
Partners include DKEI Architectural Services, Knutzen Engineering and JF Engineering. The Bank of Idaho provided the construction loan.