NCH to Open Inpatient Physical Rehab Unit Following State Approval

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (August 28, 2014) - Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH) is moving forward with plans to establish a 17-bed inpatient physical rehabilitation unit in Arlington Heights following approval by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board on Wednesday.

As a result, many patients who require physical rehabilitation will see improved access to care because they will be able to receive services without leaving NCH. The proposed unit will include a physical therapy and occupational therapy gym and an activity day room. The new unit is scheduled to open in early 2015.

"We are excited and energized to begin the work ahead of us - knowing that this effort will serve our patients and community well," NCH CEO Steve Scogna says. "The new unit will create a continuum of care for NCH patients who require inpatient rehabilitation. The rehab unit will help improve efficiencies in patient length-of-stay and result in lower readmission levels."

In 2013, NCH physicians referred more than 200 patients to inpatient rehab facilities in the area, but many of these patients often had to extend their stay at NCH for transfer arrangements to be finalized or for a rehabilitation bed to become available. Currently, there is only one hospital inpatient rehab unit in NCH's primary and secondary service areas.

NCH will partner with RehabCare to provide more seamless care for patients. RehabCare operates more than 100 inpatient rehab units in the U.S., including seven in Illinois.