CLEVELAND – December 23, 2019 – St. Vincent Charity Medical Center has named Michael J. Biscaro, Psy.D., ABPP (Forensic) to the newly created post of chief of behavioral health & addiction medicine, effective January 6, 2020.

In this position, Dr. Biscaro will serve an integral role in improving access for Rosary Hall detoxification and outpatient programs, inpatient adult and geropsychiatry, and psychiatric emergency department. Furthermore, he will lead the clinical teams currently providing behavioral health and addiction services in a transformational effort to create an integrated and expanded continuum of services that addresses the holistic needs of patients.

“By welcoming Dr. Biscaro to St. Vincent, we’re gaining a national expert in the field of modernizing, innovating and integrating behavioral health practices,” said Janice G. Murphy, president & CEO, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. “His experiences make him uniquely qualified to lead our program into the future and continue building on our successes in quality, evidence-based services.” 

Dr. Biscaro has served at the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System since 2009 in the roles of program director and team leader for the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC), and clinical psychologist. He took on the expanded role of service line manager for peer support services in 2019 after completing leadership training through a multi-state Veteran Integrated Service Network Leadership Development Institute training program.

Dr. Biscaro has a special interest improving program access, most notably by implementing one of the first PRRC telehealth programs offering the full complement of services to Veterans in the Akron area. Dr. Biscaro now co-leads a national workgroup focused on developing standards for PRRC telehealth implementation. Through the implementation of telehealth programming, but also enhanced services for people with co-occurring addictions, the PRRC has more than doubled in its capacity and size.

“The VA is at the forefront of transformational, integrated health strategies. There, I have gained a great deal of experience and training in several evidenced-based therapies and program models, and have worked in almost every level of care with an extraordinarily wide-range of diverse individuals,” said Dr. Biscaro. “I’m excited to continue to grow. Like St. Vincent, I pride myself on developing quality, effective and innovative programs and services. I believe in the importance of building a sustainable organization; one that integrates services, develops networks of care, and aims to implement policies, procedures and practices that strive to improve health outcomes.”

Dr. Biscaro holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from John Carroll University, and a master’s degree and doctorate in clinical psychology from Xavier University. He completed his internship and post-doctoral residency in clinical psychology at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.

In 2017, Joseph’s Home, the only homeless service provider in Northeast Ohio exclusively focused on medical respite care, named Dr. Biscaro as behavioral health director. Also, Dr. Biscaro consults with various behavioral health programs throughout the community to extend best practices and improve training.

“I have spent my entire career working with under-served populations because I believe they deserve the best, most effective and integrated treatments,” said Dr. Biscaro. “I look forward to continuing to serve our community through St. Vincent, where our tradition is rooted in the healing mission of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, and where we strive toward service excellence in managing the whole health needs of people struggling with addictions, mental health and complex medical challenges.”

About Behavioral Health & Addiction Medicine (Rosary Hall) at St. Vincent:

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center has been at the forefront of providing acute behavioral health and addiction care for more than half of a century. Rosary Hall offers convenient access to inpatient detoxification services and intensive outpatient addiction care for those living and working in the city, as well as surrounding suburbs.

Our psychiatric emergency department is one of only two in the state of Ohio, offering psychiatric care 24-hours a day. Staffed by a team of psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, peer recovery supporters and mental health technicians, the facility is known throughout the region for expertise in rapid assessment and triage of behavioral health conditions.

Additionally, inpatient psychiatry units offer safe and supportive environments for patients dealing with mental distress. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the behavioral health team of caregivers treats each person with respect while working together to provide the care and assistance needed for each individual to achieve treatment goals.

About St. Vincent Charity Medical Center:

Cleveland’s first and only downtown hospital, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is the city’s faith-based, high-quality health care provider. Our distinguished doctors and caregivers are devoted to treating every patient with clinical excellence and compassionate care. Home to the renowned Spine and Orthopedic Institute and the Center for Bariatric Surgery, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center has services in non-invasive cardiovascular, emergency medicine and psychiatric emergency department, primary care, occupational health, behavioral health and addiction medicine. Owned by the Sisters of Charity Health System, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center has provided Care Beyond Medicine since 1865.

IMAGE: Michael J. Biscaro, Psy.D., ABPP (Forensic), https://www.dropbox.com/s/gwv20y3vkges05x/svcmc_M%20Biscaro_12-11-2019_0005.tif?dl=0

MEDIA CONTACT: Rebecca Gallant, 216-288-0239, rgallant@sistersofcharityhealth.org