Patients who require intensive inpatient rehabilitation will soon have an additional option for care under the Baptist Health umbrella that they know and trust. Plans to construct a new Baptist Health Rehabilitation Hospital are moving forward with a groundbreaking that represents Baptist Health’s continuing commitment to providing high-quality, accessible care to the community.

Located just across the street from Baptist Health South Miami Hospital, the new freestanding facility is a joint venture with Lifepoint Health, which operates a network of more than 40 highly regarded inpatient rehabilitation facilities across the country.

“Together, we're setting new standards for rehabilitation medicine and paving the way for improved patient outcomes,” says Ronald Tolchin, D.O., chair of nonsurgical spine care and rehabilitation and Kalman Bass Endowed Chair in Pain and Rehabilitative Medicine at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute.

In the planning since 2021, the new 100,000-square-foot facility will have “a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals and families,” says Dr. Tolchin, who will serve as medical director. The specialized hospital will provide treatment for individuals with brain or spinal cord injuries, as well as for select cardiac, oncology, orthopedic and stroke patients.

“This new rehabilitation hospital will enhance our ability to provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment as part of a continuum of care for those recovering from complex injuries or illnesses,” Dr. Tolchin says. “Our goal is always to make care easier and more accessible for patients.”

The three-story facility will include 62 private inpatient rooms, with the capacity to open an additional 30 rooms. It will feature therapy gymnasiums outfitted with the latest therapeutic technologies, including augmented reality balance training, therapy bionics and a full body exoskeleton. It also will include a therapeutic courtyard and outdoor spaces designed to further support patients in their transition back to daily living activities.

The new facility is expected to take about two years to build on what is now vacant land just off of Sunset Drive and SW 62 Avenue.

The groundbreaking represents not only a step forward in construction, but a milestone in the partnership between Baptist Health and Lifepoint Rehabilitation, which has a proven record of excellence, safety and innovation.

^{Lifepoint Rehabilitation and Baptist Health leaders visited the Baptist Health Rehabilitation Hospital construction site in anticipation of the project’s start date. From left to right: Marty Mann, senior vice president, chief development officer, Lifepoint Health; Russ Bailey, president Lifepoint Rehabilitation and Lifepoint Behavioral Health; Ronald Tolchin, D.O., chair of Nonsurgical Spine Care and Rehabilitation, and Kalman Bass Endowed Chair in Pain and Rehabilitative Medicine at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute; Reyna Hernandez, assistant vice president Finance, Baptist Health; Nate Ortiz, chief operating officer, Baptist Hospital.}

“By combining our expertise and resources, we'll be able to offer patients comprehensive care that addresses their physical, emotional and cognitive needs,” Dr. Tolchin says.

Baptist Health has been providing quality inpatient rehabilitation services for more than 50 years. Currently, acute inpatient rehab in Miami-Dade County is centered at Baptist Health Homestead Hospital, which offers 23 all-private rooms for those recovering from a wide range of conditions. Inpatient rehab is also available in Palm Beach County through the Cornell Institute for Rehabilitative Medicine at Baptist Health Bethesda Hospital East.

Both locations offer comprehensive therapeutic programs with innovative, state-of-the-art equipment, creative solutions and a collaborative and compassionate approach to care. Treatment plans are individualized, and family members are a vital part of the process as medical providers continually reevaluate goals, barriers and progress.

“Our facilities are designed to enhance the overall therapeutic process with patient-centered, inviting and healing environments that allow for privacy as well as communal activity,” Dr. Tolchin says. “Centralization of services creates connectivity between clinicians, alignment of goals and teamwork to promote the best possible outcomes.”

Baptist Health has been certified by the Commission for the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities since 1983 in inpatient rehabilitation, with subsequent subspecialty certifications in stroke rehabilitation, brain injury rehabilitation and cancer rehabilitation.

 

To learn more about Baptist Health’s inpatient rehabilitation services, call 786-243-8200 or click here.