Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit at Baptist Health La Grange changing lives, reducing stigma

Access to care in your home community is essential in the face of a behavioral health emergency. Not only is it fundamental to timely, effective treatment – it removes barriers that can make seeking help even harder. 

It’s comfort in a moment of crisis. 

The Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit at Baptist Health La Grange meets that need, providing inpatient psychiatric care to communities that had long gone without it. It represents the only publicly available inpatient behavioral health beds across Oldham, Henry, Trimble, Carroll and Shelby counties. 

The 11-bed unit was intentionally designed to support healing from the moment a patient arrives. All-private patient rooms and bathrooms offer dignity and privacy, while a calm, structured environment and a secure outdoor courtyard provide space for reflection. Every element was created with safety and stability at its core. 

The impact has been swift.

Since the unit’s inception in July 2024, more than 410 patients have received inpatient psychiatric care at Baptist Health La Grange. And because the service is embedded within the hospital, there’s reach outside the unit itself. 

“Patients throughout the hospital benefit from having the service on campus,” Michelle Rodriguez, Director of Inpatient Behavioral Health at Baptist Health La Grange, said. “Our specially trained staff is available to provide resources to patients that have been admitted for other conditions and are also in need of support.” 

That staff consists of a dedicated interdisciplinary team working together to meet patients’ needs at every stage of treatment. Team members serve in different roles and capacities, ensuring care is both comprehensive and responsive. 

“It features psychiatrists, registered nurses, licensed social workers, Master’s degree-level therapists, recreational therapists and mental health technicians,” Michelle said. 

Their influence is felt by patients every day and often recognized after discharge. Grateful patients have nominated team members for both DAISY and BEE Awards, honoring extraordinary care. One nurse was described as “a phenomenal human being with a beautiful soul,” while a mental health technician was praised as “compassionate, caring, thorough, empathetic, fun and kind.” 

Beyond the unit itself, the Behavioral Health team is working to reduce stigma around mental wellness community-wide. Events like Chalk the Walk, sharing messages of encouragement and hope during Suicide Prevention Month, participation in the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Louisville’s Step Forward for Mental Health Walk, and support of Be Kind to Your Mind, which connects teens and parents to mental health resources, reflect a commitment to education and awareness. 

Each opportunity for growth can be connected to philanthropy – the power of generous donors who also believe mental health care should be accessible and free of stigma. 

“It truly encourages our entire team,” Michelle shared. “Knowing our community stands behind this work strengthens our commitment to providing compassionate, specialized behavioral health care.” 

And that support is helping change the conversation around mental health. 

“Mental illness affects so many, yet it’s often hidden and seldom talked about,” Michelle explained. “Donors’ willingness to invest in this program sends a powerful message that seeking mental health support is not only acceptable – it’s supported and valued here.” 

The Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit at Baptist Health La Grange has become a trusted community presence, and a valuable resource. Its success reflects a deepening partnership – between neighbors in need, and those whose thoughtful investment reminds them they’re not alone. 

“Their generosity helps us ensure patients across our region have access to the care they deserve.”