Inpatient Rehabilitation Services
Our 60-bed, hospital-based inpatient rehabilitation facility is a distinct part of the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System and provides comprehensive rehabilitative care. We are located in the Rehabilitation Pavilion directly connected to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, allowing access to valuable resources such as the laboratory, radiology, and pharmacy, plus specialty and emergency services. All services are available onsite which provides timely results in developing your individualized plan of care.
Patients are involved in an active rehab program requiring a minimum of three hours of therapy five days per week, or 15 hours in one week. Our goal is to provide the best quality of rehabilitative care available by restoring or improving mobility and function.
Why Choose Sarasota Memorial Inpatient Rehabilitation?
- Sarasota Memorial offers the only hospital-based Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) in Sarasota County:
- Providing patients with immediate access to clinical tests, procedures, specialists, urgent or emergent care
- Providing physicians and the care team with full access to your acute medical records to provide a seamless transition of care.
- Sarasota Memorial Inpatient Rehabilitation is a destination rehabilitation program and accepts patients from all over the world. Our Admission Team will work with you to ensure your payment is covered through insurance and coordinate transportation requirements.
- U.S. News & World Report ranked our program number 31st in the nation out of over 1,000 rehabilitation hospitals. Sarasota Memorial has the only nationally ranked rehab hospital on the west coast of Florida.
- Our program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilation Facilities (CARF) for medical inpatient rehabilitation and CARD-accredited as a stroke specialty program
- The care team includes full-time, Board-certified physiatrists with office visits available for transition of care needs after discharge.
- We staff with low patient to nurse ratios, allowing more time with each patient.
- Patients can expect one-to-one therapy sessions for a minimum of three hours per day five days per week, or 15 hours per week.
- Sarasota Memorial Inpatient Rehab has a very high patient satisfaction, consistently at or above a mean score of 97 for "likelihood to recommend" our facility
- Readmissions to the acute hospital are lower than the national benchmark.
- All of our rooms are private with a sleeper sofa and a spacious bathroom.
- Free valet parking is available at the Rehabilitation Pavilion entrance.
Admission Criteria
Patients eligible for inpatient rehabilitation should have the ability to tolerate 3 hours of therapy per day (spread over the entire day), or 15 hours per week.
The most common medical conditions seen in patients we serve include:
- Stroke
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Amputation
- Major Multiple Trauma
- Fracture of Femur (Hip Fracture)
- Brain Injury
- Neurological Disorders including Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Polyneuropathy, and Muscular Dystrophy
- Severe or Advanced Osteoarthritis, Degenerative Joint Disease
- Hip or Knee Replacement partnered with another chronic condition or other specific criteria
- Cancer diagnoses
- Post-surgical Cardiac diagnoses
What professionals make up the interdisciplinary team overseeing your care?
- Board-Certified Physiatrists
- Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and/ or Speech Language Pathologists
- Physical Therapy Assistants, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants
- Physician Assistants & Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
- 24-hour Rehab Registered Nurses, with specialized training or experience in rehabilitation
- Case Managers
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers
- Patient Care & Multi-Skill Technicians
- Rehabilitation Technicians
- Admissions Liaisons
- Pharmacists
Together, with the entire rehab team, you will be involved in setting your goals that will meet your needs and support your discharge to home.
Other Patient Programs
Peer Mentors: Peer mentors are partnered with particular inpatient rehab patients because they share a diagnosis or similar story that led to disability or illness. They come to meet with the patient directly while they are admitted to the hospital. The role of peer mentors is to meet with patients, families, and caregivers, share their stories, answer questions, and provide information on what resources related to their condition are available in the community after discharge. The peer mentor programs at SMH Inpatient Rehab include:
- Aphasia- Peer mentors are actively involved in the local Suncoast Aphasia Support Group
- Amputee- Peer mentors are partnered through Orthotic and Prosthetic Centers of Florida (OPC)
- Spinal Cord Injury or other conditions that affect mobility- Peer mentors focus on mobility and assist patients with wearing a brace, newly requiring a wheelchair, and more. They help empower people of all backgrounds to maximize independence and function.
Pet Therapy: The pet therapy program at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System originated on the inpatient rehab unit more than 20 years ago in 1997. The goal of the program is to provide support and good cheer for those recovering from complex conditions who might be in the hospital for several weeks. Sarasota Memorial Inpatient Rehab continues to have a dedicated pet therapy volunteer to visit patients on a weekly basis.
2023 Inpatient Rehabilitation Patient Reports
Inpatient rehabilitation is the first step in your recovery and serves as the foundation to your return home. Our inpatient rehabilitation team will help with arranging any follow-up medical, therapy, or equipment needs for your continued rehabilitation and healing. We appreciate the opportunity to participate in your care!