Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Cuts Ribbon on Region’s Most Advanced, Specialized Rehabilitation Hospital

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Good Shepherd Rehabilitation unveiled on July 25 a state-of-the-art rehabilitation hospital that is the nexus of talent and technology to help people recover from stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury and other complex injuries or illnesses.

Nationally, only a handful of freestanding rehabilitation hospitals are built each year. The four-story Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital at 3200 Center Valley Parkway will be the only freestanding rehabilitation hospital in the greater Lehigh Valley region, serving as a destination for complex medical rehabilitation. Good Shepherd plans to begin moving patients into the new facility on Sunday, July 30.

“In 1967, Good Shepherd opened its first rehabilitation hospital in South Allentown, a 22-bed facility. In 1983, it was expanded to 76 beds. And this Sunday, we will write the next chapter of our storied history, and further the legacy of Good Shepherd, through this astounding new building,” said Good Shepherd Rehabilitation President and CEO Michael Spigel, PT, MHA. “It will provide our team an amazing place to deliver even more incredible care to our patients who place their trust in Good Shepherd.”

The $70 million, 123,000-square-foot hospital features 76 private rooms, rehabilitation-inspired artwork and spacious therapy gyms on four floors, filled with various rehabilitation technologies to help people regain function and independence following injury, illness or surgery. It was built on a 45-acre tract of Good Shepherd-owned land across from The Promenade Shops of Saucon Valley, near Route 309 and Interstate 78 in Upper Saucon Township.

“This new hospital opens the door for emerging technologies and opportunities that allows Good Shepherd’s doctors, nurses and therapists to grow as thought leaders and for Good Shepherd to expand as a research and testing hub for manufacturers of new devices,” said Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs Sandeep Singh, MD, FAAPMR. “Blending leading-edge rehabilitation with the expertise and compassion of our team will empower patients to live lives full of possibilities.”

Other unique hospital offerings:

• Empower+, a free demonstration and education space open to the community to experience and try up-close a variety of leading-edge and innovative technologies and services that help people live life undefined by diagnosis, disease or injury. Empower+ features technology for 3D printing, smart home controls, virtual reality, living in place, adaptive gaming and more.
• To be completed in September, the Outdoor Therapy and Activity Gardens will feature innovative ways for patients to undergo therapy and participate in activities while staying at the rehabilitation hospital. From gardening and a putting green to green space and trails, the gardens’ offerings were identified and designed by a group of Good Shepherd staff members to help patients achieve their goals and return to their favorite activities.

IMC Construction of Malvern led construction; FCA (Francis Cauffman Architects) of Philadelphia served as architects; KRN Development of Memphis, Tenn., served as land developer; Pure Project Management of Philadelphia served as project manager; and Pennoni and Hyland of Philadelphia provided engineering consultation.

While Good Shepherd’s current rehabilitation hospital operations and staff will shift from 850 S. 5^th Street in Allentown to Center Valley this summer, Good Shepherd will continue to provide physician, residential, outpatient and support services on our South Allentown campus. Good Shepherd’s administrative offices also will remain in South Allentown. Currently, Good Shepherd provides more than 100,000 outpatient visits annually at the Hyland Center for Health & Technology, 850 S. 5^th St., and those services will remain. The South Allentown campus also is home to more than 100 long-term care and supported independent living residents. Good Shepherd plans to re-use the former rehabilitation hospital building in the coming years and is currently evaluating options.

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation, an independent, not-for-profit rehabilitation network with more than 60 locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is committed to transforming the lives of people of all ages and abilities through curiosity, creativity, expertise and innovation. Headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Good Shepherd specializes in treatment of spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, major multi-trauma, pulmonary disease, respiratory failure, musculoskeletal/orthopedics and complex pediatric conditions. Good Shepherd also partners with Penn Medicine to provide rehabilitation and specialty services in the greater Philadelphia area and New Jersey through Good Shepherd Penn Partners.