(Chelsea Update would like to thank Bobby Maldonado for the information in this story.)
St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea has expanded its Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit in collaboration with Michigan Medicine to treat patients who have medically complex conditions requiring hospitalization and intensive therapy following illness or injury.
These conditions include stroke, brain injury, cardiac arrest, medical/general rehab, neurological and orthopedic trauma.
The unit quadrupled its size in September from six to 24 beds.
“Our hospital has a long and proud history of providing inpatient rehabilitation for individuals suffering from traumatic injury or illness,” said Nancy Graebner, president of St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea in a press release.
“As a joint venture hospital with Michigan Medicine, we have identified Inpatient Rehab as having significant patient demand and potential for continued growth. Our community will benefit greatly from the expansion of these services within the hospital,” she said.
“Our expanded Inpatient Rehab unit will care for patients similar to the ones we have always treated, plus we will have an opportunity to admit a wider variety of diagnoses,” said Kelly Chan, PT, MPT, director of Rehabilitation Services and the Sleep Center at St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea, and ChelseaCare Home Medical Equipment.
“Although the expanded unit may have patients with a slightly higher complexity than we have had historically, the average length of stay will remain in the range of 10 to 14 days,” she said.
Michigan Medicine physicians and neuropsychologists provide clinical care and physician oversight on the expanded unit. Therapies, nursing, social work and case management are provided by St. Joe’s Chelsea colleagues. John Danko, DO, has been named the medical director of St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Inpatient Rehabilitation. He is also medical director of Michigan Medicine Inpatient Rehabilitation.
“I am excited to be joining the St. Joe’s Chelsea team and to be able to offer expanded rehabilitation services to the Chelsea community,” said Danko.
“The collaboration between Michigan Medicine and St. Joe’s Chelsea will enable us to care for more patients, in the most appropriate setting for their recovery,” Danko said.
With the expansion of Inpatient Rehabilitation in Atrium West, the hospital’s Courtyard East unit has transitioned into a Short Stay Unit. This Short Stay Unit offers efficient, high-quality care to many outpatient surgery patients, as well as other medical patients who may require medical observation in a hospital setting. For these select patients, this unit offers an opportunity to recover safely prior to being discharged home.
For additional information about SJMC, please visit www.stjoeschelsea.org.
