Montana's largest children's psychiatric hospital got even bigger Wednesday evening as supporters and employees with Shodair Children's Hospital dedicated the center's new $3.9 million acute-care facility.

Located in Helena's growing medical complex, the new wing adds 20,000 square feet to the hospital, including a 20-bed acute-care unit, a swimming pool, additional office space and storage.

Christine Mott, director of nursing at Shodair, said the addition should go far in meeting the needs of children and teens in need of acute psychiatric care.

"These are kids in a crisis," Mott said. "They could be suicidal or homicidal. They come from families in crisis and more often than not, they're not safe."

Before the project, Shodair, with only 12 acute-care beds, was forced to limit its admissions. Since January, the hospital has turned away roughly 100 patients for lack of space.

But that will change in mid-November when the hospital begins admitting new patients to the facility. Shodair generally treats children and teens between the ages of 3 and 18 years.

Jack Casey, hospital administrator, said most patients stay in acute care for 10 to 14 days. The average stay in residential treatment ranges from six to nine months.

"We really do provide a comprehensive service," Casey said "Thirty-three percent of our patients live within 100 miles of Helena. The other two-thirds come from other areas of the state."

Mott, a nurse for 23 years, left St. Louis two years ago to work at Shodair. As with many doctors and nurses on staff, the hospital's mission and dedication to children attracted her attention.

Treatments include art therapy, music therapy and recreational therapy. A new speech therapist was recently added, and a new technique in treating children, known as collaborative problem solving, was recently implemented.

"To have these services available in Montana will be tremendous," said Dr. Keith Foster, a Shodair psychiatrist. "We do a lot of collaboration with schools, pediatrics, therapists and case workers. We have four psychiatrists on staff now, and we'll be recruiting two more."

The hospital's staff will grow by 25, bringing its payroll to nearly 290 employees. The new positions include doctors, nurses and mental health specialists, according to Casey.

Renee Hofeldt, director of community relations and marketing for Shodair, described acute care -- when applied to a psychiatric hospital -- as treatment offered to children who are in imminent danger of harming themselves.

"Often, they come from other hospital emergency rooms or law enforcement agencies," she said. "This new facility will allow the hospital to serve additional children and families who might otherwise have few options for critically needed psychiatric care."

The hospital's board of trustees dedicated the new wing to the late James Foley, a 1942 Carroll College graduate who died in September 2005.

Foley returned from World War II and left his mark on several local organizations, including St. Peter's Hospital, the American Lung Association and Shodair Hospital.

The hospital will hold a public open house on Nov. 9.

Martin Kidston is the health and science editor at the IR. He can be reached at 447-4086, or at mkidston@helenair.com.