PeaceHealth United General Medical Center in Sedro-Woolley opened a new Acute Care Rehabilitation Center July 1, 2019, with a new, private-room unit containing 10 acute rehabilitation beds. The rehabilitation center features physical and occupational therapy, speed and language pathology, and nursing and social work to accommodate patients recovering from surgery or those who are medically challenged by an acute injury or illness.
The new unit comes in after a similar unit closed at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham in October 2018. The unit transitioned to general medical and surgical beds to meet the increasing demand in the Bellingham community, as the Bellingham hospital served a record number of patients last year.
“This is an example of the benefit of being part of a system of inter-connected hospitals and clinics,” said Chris Johnston, PeaceHealth United General’s chief administrative officer. “We are able to better determine how to allocate our resources – both people and facilities – to best meet the needs of our patients in a geographic area.”
Therapists who previously worked at the now-closed inpatient rehab unit at PeaceHealth St. Joseph in Bellingham have the first opportunity to apply for positions in the new unit in Sedro-Woolley.
“We are delighted to offer inpatient rehabilitation services to patients in our community,” Johnston said. “Patients in need of physical and other therapies after a surgery or stroke will benefit from having these services locally.”
