Vacant space on United Hospital Center’s 7th floor is now being utilized to provide a full range of rehabilitation services - physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapies included.

A branch of HealthSouth is in full swing, serving locals who have experienced everything from accident and stroke to neurological disorders with comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs.

The new 16-bed facility is an extension of HealthSouth MountainView Regional Rehabilitation Hospital in Morgantown. Open since May 2, the UHC location has been quite busy and has enabled local residents in need of treatment to stay closer to home, said Ginger Dearth, director of marketing operations for HealthSouth.

Patients seem happy with services received.

“I appreciate this place here,” said 78-year-old Jimmy Coontz, recovering from a stroke which left him with partial paralysis, as well as a fall which resulted in a broken ankle.

Among other therapies, Coontz is being treated through the utilization of a Sabo flex splint, designed to restore function and movement. When he was admitted to HealthSouth a couple of weeks ago, he had no movement in his left arm, he said. Thanks to successful therapy and a good working relationship with his occupational therapist, Olivia George, he is growing stronger every day and his return home is in the near future.

“It’s our patients who are the real story,” said Ed Mowen, regional president of the Mid-Atlantic region for HealthSouth, responsible for 14 HealthSouth hospitals in three states.

Every day, he hears those stories, he said. He recently interacted with a 35-year-old massive heart attack victim, who was all smiles when he was given a day pass to attend his daughter’s first softball game. Just yesterday, Mowen said he watched a female amputee complete a successful, yet strenuous exercise on parallel bars, which resulted in brand new motion of a new prosthesis.

 

HealthSouth MountainView is leasing the UHC space.

“The agreement between UHC and HealthSouth will provide a tremendous opportunity for both healthcare providers to focus on their core business,” said Bruce Carter, CEO of UHC. “We originally designed the new UHC to accommodate such future growth.”

Based on patient need, the facility itself has growth potential, Mowen said.

See an excerpt of Julie Perine’s interview with Mowen below. 

 

(Pictured on the cover and above is Coontz and George engaging in a form of occupational therapy and left, two of 30 professionals employed at the new HealthSouth facility check out some speech therapy equipment.)