TGH, Kindred Healthcare Break Ground On Inpatient Rehab Hospital

TAMPA, FL — Tampa General Hospital and Kindred Healthcare LLC have broken ground on a freestanding 59-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in the medical district of downtown Tampa.

Announced as a joint venture in May, the new facility will help meet the growing needs of Tampa Bay for rehabilitation recovery and care.

“Rehabilitation care plays an important role in the recovery of patients who have experienced debilitating illnesses and injuries,” said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital. “As part of our vision to be the safest and most innovative academic health system in America, we’re proud to partner with Kindred to employ the latest innovation and technology to enhance access to these crucial services.”

The new rehabilitation hospital is located on Kennedy Boulevard between Oregon Avenue and Willow Avenue. It brings downtown Tampa one step further in the development of a fully realized medical district that will attract the top scientists and physicians to the region and transform the area into a center for healthcare innovation.

The rehabilitation hospital is projected to be about 80,000 square feet and cost $35 million.

Kindred will manage the day-to-day operations of the new hospital, which is projected to employ more than 140 caregivers and staff. Tampa General Hospital will provide medical support services, such as imaging, lab and surgical procedures.

It is expected to officially open in February 2022.

Tampa General Hospital currently operates an inpatient rehab facility that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Clinical teams will ultimately move to the new site, while Tampa General Hospital will continue to provide pediatric and outpatient rehabilitation at alternate sites.

“Breaking ground on Kindred’s first freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Florida is a great way to start 2021,” said Russ Bailey, president of Kindred Rehabilitation Services. “Working together with Tampa General, we can bring a dedicated intensive rehabilitative facility to the Tampa Bay region that will help patients achieve their best possible recovery.”

The new inpatient rehabilitation hospital will care for adults recovering from conditions such as stroke, neurological disease, injury to the brain or spinal cord and other debilitating illnesses or injuries.

The new facility will offer state-of-the-art technology and feature all private rooms. It will also have a secured brain injury unit with private dining and a therapy gym.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for inpatient rehabilitation services,” said Couris. “Some patients need specialized help with ventilator recovery and rebuilding their strength and function. While we hope that the pandemic is not a major consideration at the time of opening the new rehabilitation hospital, it’s good for our region to know that we’re here to help when needed.”

Health Affairs Journal projects that 700,000 survivors of COVID-19-related hospitalization will require inpatient rehabilitative care.

“We have the resources to help patients reduce disability and create the best opportunity for patients to achieve a full recovery,” said Bailey. “Tampa General’s long experience as a CARF-accredited rehabilitation hospital is an added benefit and will help establish our new facility as a strong resource for the community.”

Transitional living apartments designed to simulate a residential apartment will enable patients to heal in a personalized and private environment as they prepare to return to independent living.

The facility will also have specially planned rooms to treat dialysis patients and programs dedicated to neurological conditions, stroke, brain injury and amputation recovery.

See related stories:

• Tampa Hospital Offers 1st Coronavirus Antibody Treatment In FL
• USF Health Seeks Participants For Coronavirus Vaccine Trial
• Tampa General Coronavirus Institute First of Its Kind in Florida
• Forbes Names Tampa General Among Best Employers Of Women
• TGH 1st Hospital In Florida To Use New Portable MRI