WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — The fourth and fifth floors at UPMC Williamsport's Rehabilitation Institute Facility recently got a facelift.
"Our facilities were at the point where it was time for investment, and after multiple years of planning and construction, this multi-phase project is now complete," said Thomas Hoy, Administrative Director, Neuroscience and Rehabilitation UPMC.
Renovations started about two years ago. The old rooms had three or four patients in each, which didn't allow for much privacy. The new rooms are private with an ensuite bathroom.
"It was a multi-phase project because we actually did this $22 million project inside existing space here at Williamsport Hospital. Our first unit opened in January of last year and construction is just wrapping up now for our second unit," said Hoy.
Staff on the rehabilitation floor care for more than 600 patients each year, including those who have suffered strokes, burns, fractures, and multiple trauma injuries. The average stay is 12 days.
"All of our patients are attended by physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians. They receive 24-hour oversight by rehabilitation nurses, and three hours of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy," said Hoy.
UPMC is bringing on additional nurses, physicians, therapists, and technical staff for the newly renovated rehabilitation floor. The hospital also added a new low-level brain injury program.
"The rehab institute here, we have a long history of serving individuals with brain injury. One very specialized area of brain injury rehabilitation is providing supporting care for low-level head injury programs. Currently there are only two other locations that have that type of care," said Hoy.