MACON, Ga. — A new medical center is coming to Macon to serve people from across the state who are living with an intellectual or developmental disability
The Intellectual Developmental Disabilities Crisis Stabilization Diagnostic Center will offer medical care for people with disabilities for up to 90 days.
Greta O'Dell has worked in IDD services for 13 years with River Edge Behavioral Health. She calls the medical center the first of its kind.
"This is a way that we can meet the individual's needs in the community," O'Dell said.
The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health defines a developmental disability as a chronic condition that develops before a person turns 22 and limits a person's ability to function mentally or physically.
Tamkia Woods was born with cerebral palsy. She said people with developmental disabilities deserve access to a safe space when they need help.
"We need more places like that for people with individual developmental disabilities instead of just throwing them in an emergency room. We need somebody that actually care and gone take the time and be patient with them," Woods said.
Woods said keeping IDD patients in a waiting room can make them uncomfortable especially when they're trying to get medical attention.
"Irritable, frustrated they make certain noises that might irritate the patients but that's part of the disability," Woods said.
O'Dell said the new medical center has inpatient care that allows IDD patients to take their time during their recovery.
"They can come in 60, 90 days get a complete diagnostic assessment along with behavioral staff to work with them develop accurate plans," O'Dell said.
Mercer University's School of Medicine will have residents and students work with patients to help broaden their understanding of developmental disabilities.
"Those students will be able to come in and actually learn about intellectual developmental disabilities and the difference of treating those individuals no matter what their communication style is," O'Dell said.
The center will have 16 beds but none of them will have restraints. O'Dell said if a patient's behavior is escalating they will be escorted to a calming room.
"We really hope that will kind of change the way de-escalation and coming out of a crisis looks," O'Dell said.
The state Department of Behavioral Health will refer patients to the Macon location.
The project manager said state legislators have allocated more than $10 million for the project over the past few years.