A 62-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital opened Thursday, July 30, at 6201 Sunset Drive in South Miami, giving Coral Gables and South Miami residents a closer option for intensive stroke, brain injury and orthopedic recovery care.

Baptist Health Rehabilitation Hospital is a joint venture between Baptist Health South Florida and Lifepoint Rehabilitation, the rehab division of Brentwood, Tennessee-based Lifepoint Health. The three-story, 100,000-square-foot facility has capacity for more than 1,200 patients a year, according to a Baptist Health press release.

Leaders from both organizations, physicians, elected officials and community partners gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 29, the day before the hospital began accepting patients.

Ronald Tolchin, D.O., the hospital's chief medical officer and chief of nonsurgical spine care and rehabilitation at Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, said the partnership expands access to coordinated rehab care. "With this new hospital, we can provide highly coordinated, individualized rehabilitation as part of a seamless continuum of care for patients recovering from complex injuries, illnesses and other serious medical conditions," Tolchin said.

What the hospital treats

The hospital treats patients recovering from strokes, brain and spinal cord injuries, orthopedic conditions, amputations and deconditioning after surgery. Specialty units include dedicated neuro, stroke and amputation programs, bariatric suites and rooms equipped for dialysis patients.

Beyond clinical care

The building goes beyond clinical space. It features large therapy gyms, a low-stimulation gym for patients who need a quieter environment, and a therapeutic courtyard with gardens, walking paths, miniature golf and shuffleboard. A transitional living apartment inside the hospital lets patients practice cooking, dressing and other daily tasks in a home-like setting before discharge.

Before this opening, Baptist Health's only inpatient rehabilitation beds in Miami-Dade County were at Homestead Hospital. A third Baptist Health rehab facility operates at Bethesda Hospital East in Palm Beach County, according to Baptist Health News.

Hiring and more information

The hospital is actively hiring registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, a pharmacy director and food services staff, according to Lifepoint's careers page. Russ Bailey, president of Lifepoint Rehabilitation, said the clinical team is focused on helping patients transition safely back to their homes. Job listings and information about services are available at BaptistHealthRehabHospital.com.