Acadia Healthcare and Ascension Seton have entered a joint venture (JV) to enhance behavioural health services in Austin, US, and neighbouring areas of Texas.  

This JV partnership aims to expand Acadia's present operations at Cross Creek Hospital and increase the count of licensed inpatient behavioural beds. 

Acadia will build a 106-bed expansion of the acute behavioural health hospital, which will take the total bed count at the hospital to 196. 

This new facility, to be named "Cross Creek Hospital together with Ascension Seton", is slated to open in late 2024. 

The JV hospital will be close to Ascension Seton hospitals and will serve as one of the training locations for students, residents and fellows from Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin. 

Ascension Texas president and CEO Andy Davis said: “This hospital will be a tremendous resource for those living in our community, including those who are most vulnerable, and we’re thrilled to bring together the expertise and capabilities from our two great organisations. 

“Acadia has an established track record of expanding access to high-quality, compassionate care in communities across the country.  

“This joint venture will build upon our expertise while increasing the number of behavioural health beds and other behavioural health services available to patients throughout the region.” 

Acadia Healthcare CEO Chris Hunter said: “Ascension shares our commitment to expanding access to high-quality behavioural health services and reforming the way mental health patients are seen and cared for. 

“This joint venture presents a unique opportunity for us to expand services to an existing location with a world-class partner.  

“At the same time, the teaching component of the hospital is a commitment by both organisations to the future of behavioural healthcare and will provide the region with qualified clinicians for years to come.” 

This is the second joint venture partnership between Acadia and Ascension. They have developed and opened Ascension Saint Thomas Behavioral Health Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2020. 

As of 30 September 2023, Acadia operated a network of 253 behavioural healthcare facilities with around 11,100 beds in 39 US states and Puerto Rico.  

It has 23,000 employees serving more than 75,000 patients daily.  

In Texas, Ascension runs Ascension Providence in Waco and Ascension Seton, which includes Dell Children’s Medical Center, and Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas.