NHRMC Rehabilitation Services is marking 25 years of caring for patients with a week-long celebration, Sept. 22-28.
NHRMC is extremely proud of the 250 employees that deliver the care in rehab services across the NHRMC system. This includes NHRMC, NHRMC Orthopedic Hospital, and Pender Memorial Hospital. Outpatient rehabilitation care is offered at Oleander Rehabilitation, Independence Rehabilitation, Health & Diagnostics - Rocky Point, and the Nir Family YMCA.
95% of the patients who come to NHRMC Rehab Hospital have been seen by physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy staff who work in the main acute care hospital. The acute care therapists provide services in all areas of the hospital, including the emergency department, the intensive care units, and on the patient care units. The therapy staff work closely with medical staff, nurses, and other disciplines to promote safe mobility, functional movement, and other activities to work toward regaining as much independence as possible.
The rehab staff have a unique opportunity to build relationships as patients average a 16-day stay at the Rehab Hospital. The relationships are tangible, and the results are life-changing. About 84 percent of patients who come to the rehabilitation hospital can return home, about 10 percent more than the national average.
The rehab team is close-knit, and many of the employees have been in the NHRMC since rehab services began in 1994.
The Rehab Team is known for its Rehab Olympics, which are held for patients every two years in conjunction with the Summer & Winter Olympic Games.
They also produce some of the most inspirational and touching stories. You might remember Lee Spearman, who left NHRMC without both legs and yet he still couldn’t stop talking about the people he met and the great care he received. There’s Jevanie Green, a teenager who had to relearn how to speak and walk. And Dillon Brown, who broke his neck and walked out of the Rehab Hospital 24 days later.
Outside the hospital, the Rehab Team makes a tremendous impact on the community.
They have sponsored the A’s for seven seasons in Access Wilmington’s Miracle League, a baseball league for children and adults of abilities.
The Rehab Team also has a small group of employees who are “Miracle Makers.” Yearly they participate in one of the major fundraisers for Access Wilmington. Together, they have raised more than $15,000 to support inclusive recreation and programming for our community. And they volunteer for numerous community events and facilitate support groups for patients who have experienced a stroke, amputation or brain injury.
Congratulations to NHRMC Rehabilitation Services on 25 years of excellent care!
Pictured: Physical Therapist Scotty Bethune assists a patient.