Los Angeles Community Hospital at Bellflower recently opened a 32-bed inpatient behavioral health unit—the first step towards restoring full operations to the facility.

Now owned by Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc., the facility replaces the former Bellflower Medical Center, which closed in 2013.

The revamped hospital features new nursing stations and a new patio for patients. The facility employs close to 60 clinical staff and about 20 non-clinical employees. It opened its doors on July 23.

With its dedicated mental-health unit, the hospital is addressing a need that is underserved across Southern California, HASC spokesperson Jennifer Bayer said following the reopening.

“There’s a critical need for these units in the region,” Bayer said.

Families will likely welcome the behavioral health unit in a community that has no similar facilities, Prospect Medical Holdings said in a statement.

“Residents who have a friend or loved one in the hospital will no longer have to fight the traffic… to visit,” the statement said.

Other services, including urgent care and surgical inpatient services, may be added in the future. A community needs assessment will help planners decide which services to add, the company said.