Glen Cove Hospital Opens $11M Rehab Unit

The hospital's new rehab unit boasts an innovative Parkinson's disease rehab program.

Glen Cove Hospital, part of Northwell Health in New York, opened its new $11 million, 15,000 square foot, physical medicine and rehabilitation unit this week. The unit, which brings the acute care community hospital's capacity to 247 beds, will specialize in treating patients with neurological conditions including brain injury, Parkinson's disease, and stroke.

"The new state of the art physical medicine rehabilitation unit was designed to provide a holistic therapeutic environment sensitive to the needs of patients with neurological deficits," Kerri Anne Scanlon, RN, executive director for Glen Cove Hospital, said in a statement.

The physical medicine rehabilitation unit is located on hospital's third floor, designed to have a "spa-like atmosphere" to create a calming environment for patients with diverse neurological needs. It has a capacity of 28 beds; 12 of which are specifically designated for patients with Parkinson's disease.

"Individualized care is coordinated by a team of highly specialized rehabilitation medicine physicians, rehab nurses, specialists and therapists, to help patients reach their highest level of function and quality of life," Scanlon said.

Other features include:

• A main nursing station equipped for continuous electronic monitoring of patients' cardiac condition and a satellite nursing station
• Three large quiet rooms to be used for private speech therapy, neuropsychology, and consultations
• Two well-equipped physical therapy and occupational therapy gyms with ample natural light
• A simulated apartment where patients can practice hands on activities of daily living including a bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom, to prepare for returns home,

The unit also has an innovative rehab for the Parkinson's disease involving multidisciplinary, led by neuro-rehabilitation physician Lyubov Rubin, MD, consisting of targeted interventions to help patients improve function and independence. Additionally, a virtual reality and a gaming therapy system will be utilized to help patients along in their recovery in an innovative and fun way by interacting in a virtual environment.

"Equipped with cutting-edge therapies, the new rehabilitation units meets the growing needs of our patient community with complex, high-acuity brain and neurological disorders," Susan Maltster, DO, chair of the hospital's department of physical medicine and rehabilitation said in a statement. "We are dedicated to providing the highest degree of quality, innovative care to our patients."