In a dedicated effort to meet the pressing demand for behavioral health services in central Pennsylvania, Penn State Health is actively exploring potential new sites for the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute’s (PPI) inpatient and outpatient programs.
With PPI’s lease at its current location on 2501 North Third Street in Harrisburg set to expire on May 31, 2026, the institute faces the necessity of finding alternative locations to ensure uninterrupted care for its patients. Planning for a new site must commence by late summer this year.
Among the potential options under consideration are renovating existing space at Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center and identifying a suitable site for a new hospital. Additionally, Penn State Health is actively seeking space to accommodate PPI’s outpatient psychiatric, behavioral health, and addiction services.
Deborah Addo, President and COO of Penn State Health, emphasized the organization’s steadfast commitment to maintaining the same level of exceptional behavioral health care for which the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute is renowned. She stated, “Our decisions will be guided by our unwavering mission to enhance health and our vision to become Pennsylvania’s most trusted healthcare provider.”
Penn State Health anticipates announcing its decisions regarding the future locations of PPI’s inpatient and outpatient services by early summer. The timeline for this decision and subsequent construction endeavors underscores the organization’s dedication to ensuring the seamless continuation of vital behavioral health services beyond May 2026.
Throughout this transitional phase, Dr. Erika Saunders, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, will oversee the integration of all inpatient and outpatient physician and advanced practice provider teams.
