Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center

The Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center (AMRTC) is the state’s largest behavioral health hospital.

AMRTC provides inpatient behavioral health care to adults that community hospitals cannot or will not treat. Patients often have highly complex psychiatric and medical conditions and can exhibit challenging or aggressive behaviors. Most patients have been civilly committed by a court as mentally ill. Many are under more than one civil commitment. Many patients are facing criminal proceedings. 

AMRTC is a secure facility, which means the building and treatment units are locked. On average, patients stay in the hospital about 90 days before discharge. 

Admission

Admission to AMRTC is by referral only. Most referrals are provided by county social service agencies, courts, community hospitals and mental health providers. AMRTC is a statewide treatment facility and patients can be admitted from anywhere in Minnesota. 

Referrals are screened by DCT's Central Pre-Admissions Office and must meet admission criteria.

Contact the Central Pre-Admissions Office

The Central Pre-Admissions Office is staffed around the clock. Reach them at:

  • Toll free: 1-866-966-2337
  • Twin Cities Metro Area: 651-431-5337

Visiting

To protect patient privacy, hospital staff provide visiting information to family, friends and others only at the patient's request and if the proper release form has been signed. The patient's treatment team may also deny visits from specific visitors if there is a therapeutic reason to do so.

All visits must be scheduled ahead of time. Contact the patient's social worker or nurse at (651) 431-5000 to schedule a visit.

Once you've scheduled a visit, it's always a good idea to call AMRTC prior to your arrival, just in case there have been last-minute changes that could affect our ability to allow visitors.

AMRTC tries to accommodate visitors at other times if they are traveling from a long distance or there are other extenuating circumstances.

Visiting guidelines

To protect patients and staff, visitors at AMRTC must abide by rules for appropriate attire and behavior. Those who do not follow the guidelines will be asked to leave. Staff may choose to deny or end any visit they feel interferes with the safety and well-being of patients, staff or others.

Here are some important highlights:

  • There is a maximum of two visitors per patient per appointment time.
  • All visitors must be preapproved by the patient's treatment team.
  • Visitors must sign in and present a government-issued or employer-issued photo ID.
  • Visitors must empty pockets and leave personal items (including coats, bags, purses, cellphones, cameras, wallets, etc.) in a locker before entering the visiting area.
  • All items brought in as gifts will be searched thoroughly. Food and beverages are not allowed. Only approved items will be given to patients.
  • Visits from children under age 16 must be pre-arranged with the patient's treatment team. Visits are limited to 30 minutes and must be directly supervised by hospital staff.
  • Any visit that requires supervision must be scheduled with the treatment team 48 hours in advance.

Location and Contacts

3301 North 7th Avenue
Anoka, MN, 55303
Phone: 651-431-5000