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Ascension St. Vincent’s creating new inpatient rehabilitation unit


Ascension St. Vincent’s is creating a new inpatient rehabilitation unit at its Southside hospital. Opening in July, the 22-bed, 15,000-square-foot unit will provide patients with comprehensive acute rehabilitation services.

Patients in need of this level of care have typically experienced a major neurological, cardiovascular or orthopedic health event.

“The inpatient rehabilitation unit will provide patients with the opportunity to have intensive, comprehensive rehabilitation multiple days per week, in conjunction with other acute hospital services should they be required,” said Kristen Gerking, director of clinical operations for the new unit. “The rehabilitation physicians, nurses, case managers, physical, occupational and speech therapists work closely with patients to meet their individualized goals and establish the highest level of independence prior to them returning home.”

The health system has invested $15 million to create the new inpatient unit and approximately 40 jobs will be created by the time it opens, including a physician medical director who specializes in physical rehabilitation medicine.

“This is a great step in our efforts to provide additional levels of integrated care across the full continuum of care,” said James Machado, regional president of Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside and Ascension St. Vincent’s St. Johns County. “A patient hospitalized at Ascension St. Vincent’s after a stroke, for example, can receive acute rehabilitation within our organization instead of transferring to a separate outside facility.”

The state-of-the-art unit will be open to all patients who have a referral from a physician for acute inpatient rehabilitation. After inpatient rehabilitation, patients can also take advantage of the health system’s outpatient rehab if needed.

The unit is another investment by Ascension St. Vincent’s that increases access to comprehensive stroke care. The health system also recently opened a new hybrid operating room at its Riverside hospital and has hired 15 clinicians within the last year who are specific to stroke care. Additionally, Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside is converting a riverfront nursing unit into a neurology-specific ICU to provide improved continuity of care.

To learn more about Ascension St. Vincent’s, visit www.healthcare.ascension.org.

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