Orlando Health plans for new freestanding rehabilitation facility in West Orange

West Orange residents who require medical and rehabilitation services will now be able to enjoy high quality post-acute care closer to home. 

Orlando Health recently announced its plans for the development of a new freestanding rehabilitation facility in Ocoee which will open as a 54-bed inpatient facility. 

According to the healthcare organization, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, an accredited inpatient rehabilitation program at Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center, will relocate to the new site and serve as an essential part of the what will be the first freestanding comprehensive medical rehabilitation facility in Orange County.  

Jason Atienza, corporate medical director of rehabilitation medicine, said the expansion will allow Orlando Health to provide patients and families with a comfortable and easy transition out of the acute hospitals and into an inpatient facility dedicated to rehabilitation.

“The plan is to combine the expertise of our accomplished rehabilitation team, award-winning patient experience, numerous research efforts and a newly-designed space to provide the best rehabilitation care possible," Atienza said. 

According to a press release from the healthcare giant, the facility will have all private rooms, dedicated therapy space, including quiet areas for stroke and brain injured patients, bariatric access, and expansive outdoor space for additional therapeutic activity. The institute will also utilize state-of-the-art rehabilitative equipment including a weight-assisted treadmill, robotics for training in arm and hand coordination and walking, and communication assistance technology. 

Greg Ohe, senior vice president of ambulatory and post-acute services, said the facility is being designed in a way that will allow the organization to adapt the scale and scope of its services as the needs of the patient population evolve.

“While the plan is to open the doors as a facility with 54 inpatient beds, the building will have the capacity to expand rapidly to 100 beds," Ohe said in the release. "The need for acute rehabilitation services is expected to rise as the area’s population grows. It is our responsibility to spot these trends and plan accordingly.”

However, the building is not being built from the ground up.

The new rehabilitation center will form from renovations and upgrades on the Orlando Health Center for Rehabilitation located on the campus of the organization's Health Central Hospital in West Orange County at 1300 Hempel Ave.

Ohe explained the building is the perfect location, as it is less than three years old, accessible from various locations across Central Florida and has a significant amount of room on campus for expansion. 

 The facility is expected to begin accepting patients in early 2023.

For more information, visit Orlando Health's website here.