PrairieCare: Access to In-patient Services for Children and Adolescents.

It is well understood that a substantial number of children, adolescents and adults will suffer from mental illness at some point in their life. Indeed, approximately 20 percent of kids are estimated to have a mental illness resulting in at least mild impairment in function, while it is thought that the prevalence of mental illness in adults is approximately 19 percent.  These prevalence estimates suggest that millions of children, adolescents and adults struggle with mental illness at any point in time, however far fewer seek and receive care. The morbidity and mortality associated with untreated mental illness is profound. Here in Minnesota, suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth ages 10-14, and is the second leading cause of mortality for individuals 15-34.  Unfortunately, it is often difficult for patients seeking psychiatric care to access services. In the Twin Cities metropolitan area, PrairieCare recognizes this problem and is expanding access to mental health care to patients of all ages.

PrairieCare doubles size of Edina clinic

PrairieCare, a psychiatric and behavioral health services provider, is more than doubling the size of its Edina facility.

Maple Grove-based PrairieCare last week signed a 10-year, 23,500-square-foot lease for parts of three floors in the medical office building at 6363 France Ave. S. on the campus of Fairview Southdale Hospital    . The building will be getting two new signs identifying PraireCare.PrairieCare, a private clinic group, will be moving from about 10,000 square feet it leases in the Southdale Medical Building on France.

The new location will treat kids and adolescents that need mental out-patient medical care and won't have an overnight stay option, like PraireCare's newest treatment center in Maple Grove. PraireCare will also add an outpatient program for adults at the center.

PrairieCare will be adding about 12 more jobs to the Edina office after the move, increasing from about 18 employees today.

The company's programs have been in demand in part due to its unique service of accepting walk-in and non-referred patients, said Todd Archbold, PrairieCare's chief development officer.

"Our program is constantly full. We always have wait lists," he said.

Jill Rasmussen, principal at the Davis Group in Minneapolis, represented PrairieCare in its move. Pope Architects is designing the new space. No general contractor has been selected for the $1 million to $1.5 million build-out of the new office space.

The 70,934-square-foot Physicians Building is owned by Minot, N.D.-based Investors Real Estate Trust    (Nasdaq:IRET). The building took a big hit in occupancy last year when Twin Cities Orthopedics relocated into a new headquarters on the West side of the hospital. With the new PraireCare deal, the property is full.

Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal by Sam Black, Senior reporter

PrairieCare values our patient’s education academic work, and recognizes the significance of school in the lives of youth. We are proud to host a classroom at each site, which is staffed by the local school district. Classroom staff contacts the patient’s school of residence upon intake to begin exchanging schoolwork and clinical information, when approved through a release of information. Please see MN Rule 3525.2325 for more information about education programs in centers for care and treatment.