The Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center (AMRTC) is the state’s largest psychiatric hospital. Overseen by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), the hospital operates on a secure campus in Anoka, MN.
AMRTC provides inpatient psychiatric care to adults who require treatment in a hospital setting. Most patients have been civilly committed by a court as mentally ill. Many are under more than one civil commitment. Patients have highly complex medical conditions and can exhibit volatile behaviors. Many are facing criminal proceedings. Lacking the necessary clinical expertise, secure facilities and support staff, community hospitals cannot or will not treat these patients.
AMRTC is a secure facility, which means the building and treatment units are locked. On average, patients stay in the hospital about 100 days before discharge.
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 DHS's Central Pre-Admission office and must meet admission criteria.
The Central Pre-Admission office is staffed around the clock. Reach them at:
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.
To protect patients and staff, there are many rules for visiting patients at AMRTC. See our full Visitor Information Sheet. Here are some important highlights:
Visitors must also abide by rules for appropriate attire and behavior. Visitors who are unable or unwilling to follow the guidelines will be asked to leave.
Staff may choose to deny or end any visit if they feel it interferes with the safety and well-being of the patient, staff or others.
All patients and visitors must:
Visitors who do not follow the rules risk having the visit stopped.
In order to protect staff, clients and visitors from the spread of COVID-19, there may be circumstances that require AMRTC to stop in-person visiting. If we need to close to visitors, we will make every effort to contact scheduled visitors before they arrive. However, we recommend that all visitors call 651-431-5000 just prior to coming to AMRTC to confirm that we are still open for family and support-person visits.
If you have questions or concerns about the visiting guidelines, contact AMRTC's Consumer Representative at 651-431-5116.
3301 North 7th Avenue
Anoka, MN, 55303
