News Taffy

Jonesboro, Ark., September 17, 2015 – On October 1st, 2015 NEA Baptist will open the doors of a new 24 bed Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit for patients who have experienced a significant illness, surgery or injury. Before opening, the community will have the opportunity to preview the new space at an open house and ribbon cutting event on Tuesday September 29th from 12 pm-1 pm.

The open house and ribbon cutting event is open to the public.

The Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit, located on the 5th floor of the existing hospital building at the NEA Baptist medical campus, 4800 E. Johnson, in Jonesboro, will offer 24 private and spacious rooms for patients who are in need of rehabilitative care before going home.

“We are excited to offer this service to our community,” said Melanie Edens, assistant administrator of NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital. “It will be so convenient for our patients needing inpatient rehabilitation to transfer down the hallway to another private room identical to the hospital room they have already been familiar with.  This is another great opportunity to improve healthcare for our patients and their families.”

A spacious rehabilitative gym is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and experienced professionals who will work with patients daily. A private rehab room is also available if needed. Beyond the gym, patients will also work in the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) training area and specialty bathroom/shower training unit to regain ability and familiarity with daily tasks before going home. The training area is setup in a home-like atmosphere, giving patients the opportunity to practice a variety of tasks including getting in and out of bed, opening cabinets, using kitchen appliances, getting in and out of the shower, using the restroom and more. An acoustically treated private speech therapy treatment area will be available to patients who are working with the speech therapist.

Experienced nurses, doctors, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists and more will provide specialized rehabilitative care in the unit. Patients will have access to other specialists as needed. Because the unit is built into the hospital, patients and their families will find comfort in knowing that should an emergent event arise, the distance to the closest hospital and potentially lifesaving care is not measured in miles and minutes but in feet and seconds.

Shon Riley, director of rehabilitation services at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital added, “We are so excited for the opportunity to serve our community through this amazing inpatient rehab unit. Attention to detail in the design and the amenities abound have impressed everyone who has toured the unit and we look forward to sharing that with our community at the open house.”

“I am most proud of the staff that has been assembled to provide care on the unit,” continued Riley. “The rehab nurses, therapists, social workers, aides and many others have come together with one goal in mind: to be an extension of Gods healing hand in the lives of our patients and their families.”

The family friendly unit also features a spacious dining and recreation room with large windows, offering natural light and beautiful views and a lounge area with a flat screen TV for patients and families to enjoy while patients are not receiving care. Families will also have convenient access to other amenities the hospital offers include a gift shop, coffee shop, cafeteria, prayer garden, WIFI service.

The entire unit is furnished with Arjo-Huntleigh equipment throughout the private rooms, halls, dining area and gym to provide safe patient handling and transferring. 

NEA Baptist Health System comprises NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital and NEA Baptist Clinic, northeast Arkansas’ largest physician group. The 216-bed hospital offers cancer care, heart care through the Heart Center, labor and delivery services through the hospital's Women's Center, as well as a number of inpatient and outpatient services, emergency care, and surgical services including weight loss surgery, neurology, respiratory care, and pulmonary rehabilitation. NEA Baptist Clinic’s over 100 physicians practice in more than 35 specialties and offer a wealth of services, from pediatrics to orthopedic services. For more information about NEA Baptist, please call 870-936-1000 or 870-936-8000 or visit www.neabaptist.com or www.neabaptistclinic.com.