ST. JOHN’S REHAB SERVICES CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
DEC. 3, 2008

St. John’s Rehabilitation Services is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a rededication ceremony at noon, Dec. 4 at St. John’s Hospital 1235 E. Cherokee.

Former patients, along with rehabilitation services staff members, past and present, will be on hand to celebrate the milestone.

Since 2002 St. John’s Rehabilitation has helped more than 4300 patients.  The primary patients served are stroke patients, brain injury, spinal cord injury and major multiple trauma.

“Although we continue to grow and change over the years, our basic goal has stayed the same,” says Hollis Bell, MD, Rehabilitation Medical Director, “to serve those who need our help to become as independent as possible.”

The 20-bed unit opened in 1983 and was staffed by one physical therapist, one occupational therapist, a part-time speech pathologist and 19 rehabilitation nurses. Currently the unit has five physical therapists, five occupational therapists, three speech pathologists, one clinical psychologist, one recreational therapist, and 68 rehabilitation nurses.

Over the years the unit has seen tremendous growth in services as well, including the addition of outpatient neurological services, a fitness program for patients discharged from inpatient rehabilitation and most recently “On the Road Drivers Evaluation” for impaired patients.

Note:

Reporters and videographers can meet St. John’s media relations at the hospital main entrance lobby at 11:45am

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FOR MEDIA INFORMATION, CONTACT ST. JOHN’S MEDIA RELATIONS AT 417-820-2171 OR ANGELA.GARRISON@MERCY.NET.