Celebrating one year of inpatient rehabilitation partnership at St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Hospital

One year ago, Michigan Medicine entered a collaboration with St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea (SJMC) Hospital that grew the reach of its physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) services.

The expanded inpatient rehabilitation unit provided an incremental increase of eight beds between the University Hospital and SJMC locations.

“In the year that the Michigan Medicine-SJMC inpatient rehabilitation unit has been opened, Michigan Medicine has been able to provide comprehensive acute rehabilitation services to more patients than ever in our history,” said Edward A. Hurvitz, M.D., professor and chair of the Michigan Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. “Our unit there provides a high-level patient experience with private rooms, beautiful space and a dedicated team of rehabilitation professionals working toward restoring function for patients with complex neurologic injury and other functional impairments. It is a wonderful addition to our University Hospital program and great setting for our faculty to practice, teach and expand their research.”

Michigan Medicine physicians and neuropsychologists provide clinical care and oversight at the inpatient unit in Chelsea, where PM&R residents also take rotations.

The most acute patients are still seen at University Hospital, but the SMJC location takes an array of cases, including patients with strokes, brain injuries and neurological disorders.

“St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea is focused on enhancing and expanding vital health care resources and services for our community,” said Nancy K. Graebner-Sundling, president and CEO of SJMC. “During its first year, the Michigan Medicine-St. Joe’s Chelsea Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Program has provided patients a healing environment to recover from a wide range of neurologic injuries by offering them rehabilitation services delivered by an exceptional team who embody the compassionate heart of our award-winning hospital. This unit has already become a key part of what makes us a trusted health care leader in Chelsea and the surrounding communities.”

PM&R is one of several Michigan Medicine programs providing patient care at SJMC. You can learn more about such programs, including the inpatient heart failure service and hospitalist service.