TINTON FALLS, N.J., May 12, 2020- In times of crisis, specialty hospitals, like inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, have been frequently eyed as a relief valve to support the healthcare community and provide ongoing medical care for those who need it. When the team at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Tinton Falls, a Joint Venture with Monmouth Medical Center, took on the task to support local healthcare systems with COVID-19 patient care, it was comprehensive transition.

“I could not be more proud of our team in the midst of this pandemic,” said Beth Lynch, CEO of Encompass Health of Tinton Falls. “One of the Encompass Health core values is Stronger Together, there couldn’t be a better value to depict the approach our team has taken during this time. Our team members aren’t just treating patients; they are also doing their part to mitigate the spread of the virus for our neighbors and friends.”

The 60-bed hospital, which is licensed in the state of New Jersey to provide physical medicine and rehabilitation services, cares for patients recovering from strokes, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions. The Pulmonary Program, one of the hospital’s six Joint Commission certified programs, took center stage as patients with COVID-19 experience dramatic impairments to their respiratory systems. For critically ill patients with the COVID-19 virus, it doesn’t only affect their lungs. COVID-19 can attack every organ including the brain, muscles and nerves. Researchers state that patients who have been in the ICU for more than five days have a 50% chance of having a critical illness neuropathy/myopathy that is causing their weakness. The hospital’s intensive physical, occupational and speech therapies and excellent nursing care are incredibly impactful to a patient’s level of independence post COVID-19.

Treating patients who have been positive with COVID-19 has been an emotional experience for the staff. Many patients have not seen their families for months and others have lost family members to the very same virus they are fighting. COVID-19 patients making their recovery have been discharged to standing ovations in the hallways by staff members, as their family members physically greet them for the first time in over a month.

“It creates such a lasting impression on us as healthcare providers,” said Jimmy Juliano, director of therapy operations. “When we see the raw emotion from patients and families who are appreciative and thankful for the dedicated care and genuine compassion our teams have provided their loved one during such a difficult time.”

The team at Encompass Health Tinton Falls excels in treating physical, medical and cognitive impairments caused by debilitating illness or injury. Through a combination of stringent infection control practices, personal protective equipment and following recommendations from the CDC and local health authorities, the team at Encompass Health Tinton Falls has successfully treated more than 60 patients recovering from COVID-19, as of May 11.

Download the full press release here.