Monday, Dec. 9, was a very exciting day for staff of the St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Center, when the first patients came through the doors to an impressive new space dedicated for physical, occupational and speech therapy.

Working all weekend to prepare for patients, the professional staff was ready with the treadmills, the recumbent bikes, the balance balls and parallel bars.

The Hydro Track and Solo Step were all in place, while five treatment rooms were set up, equipped and ready with various treatment modalities.

It was a smooth transition for a busy group who worked over the weekend to move from a small outpatient center down the road to a new 5,500-square-foot center in the hospital’s new patient care wing. The move combines staff, technology, inpatients and outpatients in a spacious, well-equipped facility where patients will continue to receive one-on-one therapy with licensed professionals.

“We’re very excited about this move and the increased space we have for our patients and staff,” said Scott McDermott, Occupational Therapist and manager of the hospital’s rehabilitative services. “It’s exciting that our unit will be located down the hallway from our orthopedic patients, and it’s great that our outpatients will have access to the same great environment and the same great therapists for healing and recovery.”

With additional traffic on the hospital campus, St. Luke’s Hospital has designated 12 convenient parking spaces at the new entrance for the rehabilitation center for outpatients. Other outpatients accessing surgery, lab or x-ray should use parking spaces in the circle at the back of the hospital near outpatient registration/emergency department.

Also the first row of parking spaces in Hooper Parking Lot across from the emergency department entrance are reserved for patients.

Visitors to all patient hallways, including the new wing that will open in January, are asked to continue to use the main entrance as they currently do.

“With the opening of the new St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Center, it promises to be an exciting time at St. Luke’s Hospital for patients, staff, donors, visitors and volunteers,” said Ken Shull, chief executive officer for the community hospital. “We greatly appreciate the new challenges this addition brings, from inventory control to food service to environmental services, even to designated parking.

“I can’t thank our staff and volunteers enough for the extra effort they’ve put into coordinating this transition for our patients,” Shull said. “As they always do, the team here at St. Luke’s works above and beyond to focus on our patients and their needs.”
For more information about the new building, parking or services of St. Luke’s Hospital, call 828-894-2408.
St. Luke’s Hospital is a not-for-profit community hospital dedicated to providing exceptional care close to home.

– article submitted
by Kathy Woodham