cedarA joint venture by Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health System, and Select Medical aims to create a 138-bed acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital, which will be located in the former Century City Hospital. A news release from Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health System, and Select Medical reports that the rehabilitation hospital is slated to open in late 2015.

The release also notes that the rehabilitation hospital will be intended to accommodate the growing needs in the community for inpatient rehabilitation, and to also serve as a center for treating complex rehabilitation cases from throughout the nation.

The vision of the LLC partnership among Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health System, and Select Medical centers on developing a world-class regional rehabilitation center. The center will reportedly provide highly specialized care, advanced treatment, and new technologies to treat patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs), brain injuries, stroke, amputation, neurological disorders, and musculoskeletal and orthopedic conditions.

According to the release, both Cedars-Sinai and UCLA Health System provide acute inpatient rehabilitation services at their respective facilities. Once the new hospital opens, the organizations would then transition their acute inpatient services to the new facility. Select Medical will reportedly operate the new facility. Select Medical is a provider of long-term acute care and rehabilitation, with hospital and outpatient locations in 44 states.

UCLA is delighted to join forces and share expertise with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Select Medical, says David T. Feinberg, MD, MBA, president, UCLA Health System, CEO, UCLA Hospital System, associate vice chancellor, UCLA Health Sciences.

“The addition of this rehabilitation facility will be of extraordinary benefit to the people of Los Angeles,” Feinberg adds.

Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Health System, classifies the project as “exciting,” and as a “natural progression of Cedars-Sinai’s mission.”

“Meeting the health needs of the community, state, and nation often requires a new type of partnership, and we look forward to working with UCLA Health System and Select Medical to create a highly advanced, comprehensive rehabilitation center for patients,” Priselac says.

David S. Chernow, president, Select Medical, articulates the organization’s honor in working with UCLA Health System and Cedars-Sinai. He notes that the joint venture is already creating synergies among the three partners and, “All of it should add up to a new destination for patients for years to come.”

The release states that an earlier feasibility study indicated that appropriate seismic retrofitting would enable the facility to meet seismic safety standards and all necessary licensure requirements to be operated as a rehabilitation hospital. The release also notes that the preparation work is slated for completion in 2015 and will allow building occupancy until 2030.

[Source(s): Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health System, Select Medical]