Encompass Health discontinues outpatient rehab services in Harmar
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Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital in Harmar has discontinued its outpatient rehabilitation services following a drop in patient volume because of the covid-19 pandemic.
The cut in services, which took effect Sept. 30, affects patients who are not hospitalized but undergoing physical, occupational and speech therapy and recovering from bone breaks, amputations, orthopedic problems and strokes.
“The decision to close our outpatient services was not an easy one,” said Hillary Carnel, associate director of media relations for Encompass Health’s corporate offices in Birmingham, Ala. “In our operational evaluation, it was decided we should allocate our resources and put our focus on our primary line of service that provides our patients with the best possible inpatient rehabilitation care possible.”
All other services at the 162-bed hospital on Guys Run Road, including inpatient rehabilitation care, will continue to be offered, Carnel said.
The closure will impact fewer than 10 employees. More than half of them have assumed positions with the inpatient rehabilitation segment of the hospital, she said.
Patients were informed of the changes in advance to allow them to make plans for their continued care, according to Carnel.
“Our team has been supporting them by providing them with other community resources in addition to the option of home health services throughout the greater Pittsburgh area.”
Carnel said it is difficult to say how many patients have been impacted.
“The number of outpatients varies from time to time, so it’s hard to put an exact number. In addition, this number is much lower as a result of the covid-19 pandemic as daily visits were reduced,” said Carnel. “Like other health care providers, we experienced the additional drop in numbers due to the heightened anxiety.”
While insurance generally will dictate where these patients can turn for outpatient rehab, those in the region can turn to Allegheny Valley Hospital for outpatient rehabilitation services in Harrison. Allegheny Health Network opened a neighborhood hospital in Harmar this month, but it does not offer outpatient rehab.
UPMC, through its Centers for Rehab Services, provides outpatient therapy at Alexander’s Athletic Club in Harmar and the Center for Rehab Services in Harrison, located next to the UPMC urgent care center at the Heights Plaza.
“We are grateful for everyone who has put their trust in us for their outpatient rehabilitation needs during that time. In return, our team has been honored to help many individuals regain function and independence through outpatient services,” Carnel said.
Encompass Health Harmarville provided outpatient rehabilitation for more than 40 years, according to Carnel.