Alexian Continues to Provide Exceptional Rehabilitation Services
Several years ago, when Alexian Brothers Health System announced a long-term plan to expand its network of health-care facilities for residents of Chicago's northwest suburbs, one of the cornerstones of the plan was a rehabilitation hospital.
Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital opened in February 2004 in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, providing patients with the opportunity to receive first-rate care close to home, without the stress and inconvenience of driving into Chicago.
The hospital is a partnership with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) , which has been named "Best Rehabilitation Hospital in America" by U.S. News & World Report for 17 consecutive years. The relationship between the Alexian Brothers and RIC began in 1993, when RIC took over management of the 32-bed Rehabilitation Center at Alexian Brothers Medical Center. From the beginning, RIC has been the perfect partner, not only because of its exceptional reputation, but also because, like Alexian, RIC is dedicated to the holistic treatment of rehabilitation patients, emphasizing not only the physical aspects of healing, but also the emotional ones.
Doctors and other staff at Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital understand that it is not enough to treat a patient's body. Especially in rehabilitation cases, where the treatment can be long, often painful and sometimes discouraging, it is necessary to provide support to the soul as well.
That approach follows the hospital's social mission, which is based on the core values of the Alexian Brothers - Dignity of the Person, Care of the Poor, Holism, Partnership and Compassion. The rehabilitation hospital is an example of how that social mission can be combined with a business understanding of the need for services in the northwest suburbs.
The hospital was a success from the very start, with occupancy rates of 94 percent to 96 percent from the day it opened. Rehabilitation programs and services formerly located at other Alexian sites were relocated to the hospital, which allowed Alexian and RIC to provide a much broader range of care to a much larger number of patients.
The hospital treats patients with virtually any kind of rehabilitation need, including those recovering from strokes, brain injuries, joint replacement, amputations and workplace accidents, as well as those dealing with arthritis, Parkinson's disease and other motion disorders. In addition to inpatient care, it also offers day treatment, outpatient care, counseling, support groups, and on-site and community-based education programs.
Although the original hospital encompassed 66,000 square feet, it soon became evident that more space was needed to meet the demand for the specialized care provided by Alexian and RIC. In 2005, construction began on a two-story, 16-bed addition for acute-care patients, bringing the total number of inpatient beds to 66.
The rehabilitation hospital can provide care for patients as they move from stage to stage in their rehabilitation. A team of specialists works closely with each patient and the patient's family, starting as soon as they enter the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network.
The Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital is the centerpiece of Alexian's Rehabilitation Center of Excellence, which coordinates patient care with the network's other Centers of Excellence.
Alexian Brothers Hospital Network also offers rehabilitation care, in partnership with RIC, at its Alexian Medical Mall in Schaumburg. The medical mall provides one-stop-shopping for rehabilitation services, radiology and diagnostic services, and occupational health services. The rehabilitation care available at the medical mall includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation.
The medical mall, like the rehabilitation hospital, is dedicated to making the best medical care available in a way that is convenient as well as comprehensive.
