The Altoona Mirror is reporting that the commissioners have agreed to give UPMC $200,000 from its American Rescue Plan funds to help with the cost of creating a unit called the emergency psychiatric assessment treatment and healing unit for the hospital. Officials at UPMC say the $1.3 million unit will help patients deal with psychological distress. UPMC went to the commissioners seeking funds for the unit. Commissioner Bruce Erb who abstained for voting because of his position on the UPMC Altoona/Bedford board says that this unit will help to improve mental health treatment in Blair County, in terms of them not being put behind bars if they are arrested.
