Mid City campus expands psychiatric services to address the city’s
critical need
Baton Rouge, La. – Baton Rouge General has appointed Ann Wilder Executive
Director of Behavioral Health Services, to lead the expansion of the hospital’s
psychiatric service line at its Mid City campus.
Wilder brings 20 years of behavioral health experience to the General,
with expertise in the design, launch and implementation of new inpatient,
outpatient and specialty behavioral health programs. In her role, Wilder
will serve as the program coordinator for inpatient psychiatric and outpatient
behavioral wellness, helping provide much needed behavioral health services
to the Baton Rouge community.
In its
Future of Healthcare report released last fall, Baton Rouge General announced plans to expand
behavioral health services, reallocating 19 beds to care for adult behavioral
health patients, many with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart
disease. “Behavioral and mental health is a critical factor in improving
the health and wellness of our communities, especially among seniors and
those with chemical dependency challenges” said Wilder. “With
an expected rise in the demand for inpatient behavioral health services,
this expansion will allow us to help meet the need to care for patients.”
Currently, 12 beds have opened, with the remaining 7 set to open in the
coming months.
Wilder graduated from the University of Louisiana at Monroe with a B.A.
in Mass Communication and went on to achieve two master’s degrees
in both Business Administration and Science in Counseling. Before coming
to Baton Rouge General, she served as Assistant Administrator of Anchor
Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to that, she led the behavioral health
program at HCA Eastside Heritage Behavioral Health Center, also in Georgia.
While there, she was extremely active in her community, serving as Director
for National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) of Gwinnett County,
and as co-chair of the suicide prevention network, working tirelessly
to reduce the stigma of mental illness.
About Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Baton Rouge General Medical Center is a full-service community hospital
with 590 licensed beds between two campuses. As the first hospital in
the capital city, Baton Rouge General opened its doors in 1900, and has
provided the Greater Baton Rouge community with high-quality healthcare
for generations. An accredited teaching hospital since 1991, Baton Rouge
General serves as a satellite campus of Tulane University School of Medicine,
and offers other medical education programs, including a School of Nursing,
School of Radiologic Technology, Family Medicine Residency Program, Internal
Medicine Residency Program, and Sports Medicine Fellowship Program. For
more information, visit
BRGeneral.org, find us on Facebook at
Facebook.com/BatonRougeGeneraland follow us on Twitter at
@BRGeneral.