This “frequently asked questions” (FAQ) will provide general information and answer specific questions on the new Central Regional Hospital now under construction. This update was completed in January 10, 2008. Updates will be ongoing as needed.

Why is North Carolina building a new psychiatric hospital?
Both of the current hospitals serving this region – John Umstead Hospital in Butner and Dorothea Dix hospital in Raleigh – are old and outmoded. John Umstead Hospital was built during the Second World War as a U.S. Army facility. It was purchased from the federal government and first admitted patients in 1947. Dorothea Dix Hospital is even older. Most of Dix’s buildings were built prior to World War II. A 2000 study determined that it would be more cost effective to build a modern state-of-the-art psychiatric facility rather than fix or upgrade the old structures.

What is the name of the new hospital?
The new hospital is called the Central Regional Hospital.

What is the mission of the new hospital?
The mission for CRH is to “provide integrated person centered treatment to children, adolescents and adults with psychiatric disorders while promoting wellness and offering support to patients and their families.” The vision statement reads, “CRH seeks to be a model state hospital using evidenced based practices, research, education, and technology to provide quality clinical care in the safest environment.”

Values:
In the pursuit of our mission, we believe the following value statements reflect our desire to provide quality services to our customers.

• We recognize and affirm the unique and intrinsic worth of each individual.
• We treat all those we serve with compassion and kindness.
• We provide services giving first consideration to the needs of patients and their families.
• We strive for honesty, integrity and fairness in the way we conduct our business.
• We strive to provide the best customer service possible, recognizing that our customers include patients, fellow employees, outside agencies, and all the citizens of North Carolina.

When is the new hospital planning to open?
The hospital is now expected to be open and functional by the Summer of 2008. Patients and staff will transition from John Umstead Hospital and Dorothea Dix Hospital beginning in July 2008. Both John Umstead Hospital and Dorothea Dix Hospital are expected to remain open until transition to the new hospital is complete.

How many people will the new hospital serve?
The hospital will serve patients from 26 counties in the central region of the state.

How many people can the hospital serve at one time?
The new hospital will have 432 beds.

I keep hearing that admissions are rising well above the 432-bed capacity. What’s going to happen to those extra people?
We are well aware that admissions to all state psychiatric hospitals have been rising and we have made plans for a temporary 100-bed overflow unit (CHR-Umstead), which will be located in Butner, adjacent to the new hospital on the former John Umstead Hospital campus. Plans are also under way for a short-term in-patient unit of up to 60 beds that will be located on the site of the old Dorothea Dix Hospital (CHR-Dix). In addition, some patients who have been traditionally served by either John Umstead Hospital or Dorothea Dix Hospital will move into the Cherry Hospital catchment area. Plans are also underway to transition forensic patients to a new forensic unit at Broughton Hospital.

Where is the Central Regional Hospital located?
It is being built in the town of Butner in Granville County. Butner is located approximately 30 miles from Raleigh, 15 miles from Durham, and 29 miles from Henderson. The hospital is located on land between Central Avenue and Veazey Road in Butner.

How much does the new hospital cost?
The construction contract, with change orders is $111,956,970. The funding available for construction, design, medical equipment, furniture and associated components, telecommunications and data equipment, computers, etc, is $130,000,000 in Certificates of Participation (COPs). All of these funds are expected to be expended by the time the CRH is fully operational.

How big is the new hospital?
The hospital has approximately 470,000 square feet, or roughly 10.8 acres of floor space, composed of a three-story administrative and service wing, a two-story therapy and medical office wing, and a three-story residential patient care unit wing, all in the same building. The length of the building is approximately 1,000 feet, and the width approximately 440 feet. The site, including buildings, parking lots, grounds and buffer zones, covers approximately 53 acres.

Who designed the new hospital?
It was designed by The Freelon Group, a North Carolina architectural firm based in the Research Triangle Park.

Who is building the hospital?
R.N. Rouse and Company, Inc., a North Carolina-based construction firm headquartered in Goldsboro.

CRH Career Information

How many people will work at the new hospital?
We expect that the new hospital will employ more than 1,600 people. In addition, we will need staff to care for patients in the CHR-Dix and the CHR-Umstead units. The number of patients in those units will dictate the number of staff needed.

Can I get a job at the new hospital?
CRH is currently recruiting for all types of positions to staff the new hospital. Current job vacancy listings will be posted to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Human Resources webpage at www.ncdhhs.gov/humanresources; the Office of State Personnel (which is the centralized web site for all NC state government positions) webpage at www.osp.state.nc.us; the Central Regional Hospital webpage at www.ncdhhs.gov/mhddsas/centralhospital/careers.htm (your direct link to CRH job announcements); as well as the human resources office at Central Regional Hospital (919-764-7200).

As a job seeker, how do I know where to submit my application?
Please submit your application to the hospital and contact person listed in the job vacancy announcement. Completion of the state of North Carolina application (Form PD 107) is required and can be downloaded at: http://www.osp.state.nc.us/jobs/applications.htm; or directly from the job opening announcement. Resumes may be submitted in addition to your application.

How will new employees be chosen for positions at the new hospital?
Current Dix and Umstead hospital employees will have first preference for jobs at the new hospital. The state of North Carolina merit-based employment policies will be applied in the selection of new employees. Given the number of current employees there remains a large number of vacancies in certain areas for those interested in working in health care and related jobs. Advertising started in December 2007 and will continue as jobs are open even through the opening of the new hospital.

Where is management in the hiring process for the new hospital?
The top 20-25 executive management team and key mid-level managers have been selected. These individuals were chosen from the existing strong leadership at the current Dix and Umstead hospitals, and will steer the opening and staffing of the new hospital. Several phases of hiring have occurred and vacancies continue are regularly posted.

What can applicants expect when applying for positions at the new hospital?
The Department is committed to providing a fair and equitable hiring process and staffing the new hospital with a diverse and qualified workforce. A large number of staff need to be hired in a short period of time. Once applications are received by hiring managers, applicants who are selected for interviews will be promptly scheduled.

What will happen to Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Hospital in Raleigh and John Umstead Psychiatric Hospital in Butner?
The new hospital will replace both of these facilities. Both hospitals will be phased out and closed. Departmental management is working on plans for appropriate use of these spaces. The Blackley Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center and Whitaker School will remain on the Butner campus. Many of the buildings of the Dix campus are occupied by a variety of non-hospital Divisions and services. A panel is reviewing and recommending future use of that campus.