Rehab pavilion opens in Wheaton
Excited community members united to celebrate the grand opening of the Marianjoy Outpatient Rehabilitation Pavilion Thursday evening in Wheaton.
The pavilion is part of Marianjoy's $60 million project that included two other phases; a garage and a 175,000-square-foot new hospital, completed a year ago. The old hospital, founded in 1972, was completely renovated and now has become the two-story outpatient pavilion. It doubles the square-footage available for adult and pediatric rehabilitation to about 9,000 square feet, and is the last phase of the project.
More than 100 officials, visitors and patients gathered at the pavilion for chats, tours and an introduction to the newest facility.
Marianjoy's President and Chief Executive Officer Kathleen Yosko said lately, patients don't want to leave the facility.
"Now we have the ability to provide comprehensive rehabilitation in a modernized facility," she said. "It's truly the whole rehabilitation continuum that's provided here."
The Integrative Holistic Medicine Clinic is a new addition within the pavilion. It focuses on the prevention and management of chronic illnesses in conjunction with existing allopathic medical treatment.
"It has potential to grow because it's very famous and popular," said Gouri Chaudhuri, daily rehabilitation program director.
Chris Uscila, a discharge planner at Central DuPage Hospital, visited the facility and checked out the new pavilion Thursday because she sends a lot of patients to Marianjoy.
"There's certainly a need for it in this area," she said. "I'm sure it's going to be used by a lot of people."
The entire facility provides 120 private rooms, gardens, a labyrinth, chapel and meditation room. The not-for-profit hospital serves adults and children with disabilities resulting from strokes, brain, spinal cord or orthopedic injuries, and neuromuscular disorders.
Yosko said the project was a group effort.
"Truly, in my mind, I had a vision," she said. "But how this all turned out was greater than my vision."