A new rehab hospital is set to open in Concord Township next week. Encompass Health is scheduled to open its 50-bed rehabilitation facility on May 5 at the former site of the Concordville Inn, but the hospital had a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 29.
The new facility — which was four years in the making, from preliminary discussions to its construction and now opening — is two stories with 25 beds per floor. Each room is private, with some specialty rooms for large patients and for those who need a low-pressure environment. Encompass also has the ability to expand to another 10 rooms if needed. It received its state license from the Department of Health on Monday, April 27. Additionally, the DEA approval is pending, but that should come soon. The facility now has 133 employees with another 15 pending, according to Encompass Concordville’s CEO Lauren Grieder.
Grieder said patients are referred to by hospitals and by private physicians. Once the referral comes in, the patient will be evaluated.
“Our physician would review their record with our liaison and determine if they were appropriate for admission to our hospital.”
She went on to say that there are no conditions or recovery situations that Encompass can’t handle.
“I wouldn’t say that there’s anything that we wouldn’t be able to handle,” she said. “It would be based on an individual assessment. The patient has to be able to tolerate three hours of physical therapy for five days per week. That’s part of our requirement for this level of care. They also have to have a need for medical oversight and require 24/7 nursing in order to be admitted. They also have to have a need for two services, with one being physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech.”
Concord Council Co-Vice President John Gillespie said the addition of Encompass “strengthens our medical presence as a mecca in Delaware County for medical services. We have many different hospitals. We have a great senior population who would need a facility like this rather than travel to Bryn Mawr. It’s a great amenity to add.”
Concord Council President Dominic Pileggi initially took a different approach when asked what the addition of Encompass means for the township.
He commented first on the fact that the facility is in the Concordville Overlay District, and there was concern about what the development might look like. However, he said, the township council and all concerned feel that the design and architecture fit the historic nature of the district and that “if everything else along this roadway goes like this, we’ll be very happy. This is a good kickoff.”
He commented on that historic aspect again during the ribbon-cutting ceremony before picking up on Gillespie’s point.
“A very important consideration that went into the planning, design, and construction of this building was the fact that the site stood where the old Concordville Inn was, rich in history and a staple of our community for many years. With the guidance of our Historical Commission and our land planner, we were able to make design changes to the front of the building, as well as save artifacts from the Concordville Inn. The original painting of the inn will now be on display at the main entrance of this building.”
But then he got to the medical aspect of Encompass and how it joins with the other medical facilities in Concord.
“Our township has experienced tremendous growth over the last 20 years,” Pileggi said, “and a big part of this has been the health-care sector. Concord Township is currently home to Main Line Health, Christiana Care, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, DuPont Hospital for Children, and many other medical offices and services…On behalf of Concord Township Council and the people of Concord Township, I’d like to officially welcome you to our township.”
Matt Gooch, the president of Encompass’s Northeast region, said the facility is the 175th hospital, and the tenth located in Pennsylvania.
“We are committed to helping patients return to what matters most to them after illness or injury,” Gooch said. “Our goal here is to provide a place where families and patients can access high-quality care, a place where patients will find hope, healing, and restored confidence. Most importantly, this is a place where patients will regain independence, which results in a better quality of life.”
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
