Page 33 - Bernardon + JLL-Behavioral Health Statement of Qualifications

P.O. Box 2396, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35403
Phone: 205.454.2210
Email: kimberly@bhfcllc.com
Website: www.bhfcllc.com

COMPANY PROFILE

Behavioral Health Facility Consulting, LLC was founded in November of 2007 with the primary objective of assisting psychiatric
hospitals, behavioral health facilities and other organizations providing treatment for the mentally ill with developing safe, healing
therapeutic environments for their patients and clients. Careful consideration is given to staff safety and providing a workplace
where they will feel safe and will result in assisting with recruitment and retention of high-quality personnel. Additionally, the
organization is committed to increasing the awareness of facilities and designers regarding the current design trends and latest
products that have been developed which are safer to use in these environments.

BHFC’s founder and Senior Consultant, James M. Hunt, is a licensed architect with over 40
years of experience including 30 years of working with behavioral health care facilities. Twenty
of those years (1981-2001) were as the Director of Facilities Management for the Menninger
Clinic, a world renowned private mental health organization. This provided him the unique
opportunity to understand the day-to-day operation and management of these facilities. It also
allows him to assure that communication between the organization’s clinical, facility and
administrative staff and the design team is fully understood and helps provide a finished project
that is an accurate reflection of the facility’s requirements.
St. Mary’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI
Kimberly McMurray, Senior Consultant, is a licensed architect with over 35 years of design
experience and managing Principal of BHFC. Together, McMurray and Hunt have participated
in the design and construction of +40 behavioral health care facilities in 20 states plus three
projects in British Columbia, Canada. These projects have a combined total of over 2,000
patient beds and a total construction cost of over $700 million. In addition to these construction
projects, +60 facilities in 25 states have been visited and Patient and Staff Safety Reviews
conducted to identify potential hazards in existing units and to provide assistance with
resolving these issues with cost effective solutions that both increase safety and reduce the
institutional appearance of the patients’ environment.
West Springs Hospital, Grand Junction, CO
This extensive experience has provided the opportunity to see things done well many ways
and things poorly done many ways. BHFC will not bring a one-size-fits-all solution to this
project. Numerous items and conditions will be identified as issues to be explored. Then
several solutions will be presented to each situation along with the strengths and weaknesses
of each solution so the Client can make informed decisions. Every project is unique, and the
completed facility will reflect the specific requirements and features necessary for the patient
populations served and the organization’s needs.

The company objective to increase the awareness of facilities and designers regarding the
current design trends and latest products had been addressed by publishing white papers in
peer reviewed journals, writing articles in trade magazines, speaking at international, national,
Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, and state behavioral health care conferences. Mr. Hunt and Ms. McMurray are co-authors of
Brooklyn, NY
the “Behavioral Health Design Guide that has been continuously published on-line from 2003
to 2020, the latest in November 2020. It is now available free of charge at www.bhfcllc.com.
In addition, numerous manufacturers seek their advice on how to improve products for this
market. No compensation is ever accepted for these consultations, any products listed in the
Design Guide or recommended to clients.

Hunt was invited to participate in an Expert Panel assembled by The Joint Commission
and CMS to address ligature attachment risk issues that have been major issues
throughout 2017 and this emphasis and participation will continue. McMurray and Hunt
invited to participate with Facility Guidelines Institute Behavioral Health Topic Group
to review the 2022 Guidelines for Behavioral Health. Hunt and McMurray are industry
recognized authors and often invited as subject matter expert presenters for
professional organizations and interest groups.

BHFC remains committed to improving the built environment for mentally ill patients and the
staff that assist them as well as striving to expand the knowledge of how to design buildings
and develop products that will enhance the experience for all who come in contact with these
facilities. We continually strive to live up to the words of Swedish architect Stefan Lundin in
his book Architecture as Medicine.

BHFC is always ready to help you discover the answers that are best for you, your patients, and your organization.
BERNARDON | STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
JLL | New Behavioral Health Facility | January 28, 2022 Page 31