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Community Rehabilitation Hospital opens for patient care on the Community Hospital North campus

For release on June 06, 2013

Indianapolis, IN— Community Health Network, in joint venture with Centerre Healthcare, announces the opening of Community Rehabilitation Hospital on the Community Hospital North campus. The free-standing facility is custom-built to provide intensive rehabilitation services to treat complex medical conditions with a focus on neurological issues such as brain injuries, stroke, spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis and burn patients.

“Community has provided comprehensive rehabilitation services in Central Indiana since 1974,” said Doug Beebe, president of Community Rehabilitation Hospital. “Our investment in a new facility allows us to further develop our successful model of care and reach more patients who are in need of this highly specialized program, while our partnership with Centerre healthcare will provide additional expertise in rehabilitation practice.”

Community Rehabilitation Hospital, located on the southeast corner of the Community Hospital North campus, will replace the renowned Hook Rehabilitation Unit at Community Hospital East. The new location, just off of I-69 and 465, provides easy access for patients and families. The $23 million building and grounds are custom-designed to create a convenient, comfortable experience for families, while offering highly specialized spaces to enhance the high quality patient care Community’s rehabilitation team has been recognized for through the years.

The hospital space features a 28-bed brain injury unit, a 16-bed stroke unit and 16 additional beds, including specially-equipped bariatric suites - becoming the first rehab facility in the state to offer this option. All rooms are private and include private bathrooms with showers. The additional rooms afforded through the new facility are projected to accommodate 1,200 patients in 2014, a significant increase from the 700 patients seen by the inpatient program at Community Hospital East in 2012.

The facility has a large therapy gym on each floor, as well as private physical, speech, occupational and recreational therapy treatment spaces. The outdoor courtyard offers multi-textured walking surfaces, curb cutouts that simulate city streets, a basketball court and a putting green to help patients work on balance and walking skills needed in their daily lives. In addition to two spacious, communal dining spaces, patients with swallowing difficulties have access to a private dining room with immediate access to oxygen therapy, where they can be closely supported by caregivers.

Many features and amenities will encourage family involvement in the recovery process, including an on-site apartment where family and patients can stay and prepare for the transition to their home environment. Patient rooms are equipped with sleeper chairs for loved ones who want to stay overnight, and a beautiful outdoor gazebo with both ramp and stair access is available for family members to gather with their loved one and take in some fresh air.

Community Rehabilitation Hospital staff will gradually transition from the unit at Community Hospital East and move over to the new facility as patients are discharged from the Hook Rehabilitation unit, which is scheduled to close by mid-summer. The new hospital has 150 employees, including physicians, nurses, therapists, pharmacists and support staff, all dedicated exclusively to rehabilitation care, as well as a team of three specially-trained rehabilitation dogs.

All patient care is coordinated through Community’s state-of-the-art electronic medical record, which includes a rehab-focused module. Ancillary services and additional specialty care and critical care services are immediately available on the Community North campus.

“With our new facility and targeted focus, we are driving outcomes to an even higher level of excellence,” said Allison Williams, M.D., medical director at Community Rehabilitation Hospital. “In addition to getting patients back to walking and performing daily living tasks, we’re also employing neuropsychology tactics to help them build alternate brain pathways so they can speak correctly and think and act safely.”

About Community Health Network
Ranked among the nation’s most integrated healthcare systems, Community Health Network is Central Indiana’s leader in providing convenient access to exceptional healthcare services, where and when patients need them - in hospitals, health pavilions and doctor’s offices, as well as workplaces, schools and homes. As a non-profit health system with over 200 sites of care and affiliates throughout Central Indiana, Community’s full continuum of care integrates hundreds of physicians, specialty and acute care hospitals, surgery centers, home care services, MedChecks, behavioral health and employer health services. To learn more, visit eCommunity.com or call 800-777-7775.

Ryan Chelli, Media Relations
Ryan Chelli