Ascension St. Vincent's Southside Hospital ready to open a new inpatient rehabilitation unit
Ascension St. Vincent's Southside Hospital is days away from opening its new 22-bed, inpatient rehabilitation unit for patients needing comprehensive acute rehabilitation services.
The 15,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art unit is expected to open July 1, Gary Nevolis, marketing and communications lead for Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast, told the Times-Union.
It will provide comprehensive care for patients who've experienced "a major neurological, cardiovascular or orthopedic health event," hospital officials said in a news release announcing the project.
More healthcare development news: New emergency room bringing 'care closer to where people live' in Clay 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,” said James Machado, regional president of Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside and Ascension St. Vincent’s St. Johns County.
The new 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," Kristen Gerking, the unit's director of clinical operations, said in the release.
The unit's medical staff includes doctors, nurses, occupational and physical therapists who will work closely with the patients to help them "establish the highest level of independence prior to them returning home,” Gerking also said.
More hospital construction:
The project represents an estimated $15 million total investment, the hospital said.
A Feb. 25 city building permit shows the work entails a complete renovation of the 5th Floor South and East Wing inpatient rehabilitation.
The unit will create about 40 jobs including a physician medical director specializing in physical rehabilitation medicine, according to hospital officials.
“This is a great step in our efforts to provide additional levels of integrated care across the full continuum of care,” Machado also said.
Ascension St. Vincent's Southside Hospital Rehabilitation Unit
Address: 4201 Belfort Road
Project overview: Renovation to create a 22-bed, in-patient rehabilitation unit
Projected completion date: Early July
Estimated investment: $15 million
Contractor: Gilbane Building Co.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville hospital Ascension St. Vincent's opening new rehab unit
