PBRMC new rehab offers better care, close to home

Members of the public got their first look Tuesday at a new in-patient rehabilitation facility at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

PBRMC offers the only in-patient rehab in at least 60 miles and will now be able to help patients with more complex medical needs, said Kelli Pierce, director of rehabilitation services.

“I think we’re going to be able to better serve the community, keep sicker, more complex patients here because we have better resources available,” said PBRMC Chief Operating Officer Chris Jones. “It’s going to be better for families also. If you get to keep the patients close to home, close to families, obviously that’s better for everybody.”

Chris Jones, chief operating officer, and Kelli Pierce, director of rehabilitation services, stand in a new rehabilitation gym at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center’s Oak Grove campus. This renovated area is expected to start serving patients this month. DAR/Donna Farley

With a location in the hospital, patients now have on site access to a variety of specialists.

This is also expected to allow the hospital to bring patients back to Poplar Bluff from outside facilities in Cape Girardeau and St. Louis, for instance, where they may have gone for treatment of more acute needs, said Pierce.

The seventh floor renovations were a just over $2 million investment. The floor now includes 19 private patient rooms, a new dining area and improved waiting areas for families, along with new equipment, furniture and technology. A rehabilitation gym and daily living skills room are also located on the floor.

Chris Jones, chief operating officer, and Kelli Pierce, director of rehabilitation services, stand in a new daily living skills rehabilitation room at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center’s Oak Grove campus. This renovated area is expected to start serving patients this month. DAR/Donna Farley

PBRMC currently offers rehab services at their Westwood Boulevard campus.

Operations are expected to move to the Oak Grove campus Friday, following final approvals from the state, Jones said.

The hospital continues to make improvements to the Westwood facility, he continued. A cancer treatment program at that site will see nearly $1 million in upgrades this year. Hospital officials are also discussing other investments to be made at that location, and expansion of services throughout the organization, Jones said.

The Westwood campus is also home to behavioral health program, a pain clinic and outpatient physical therapy.

PBRMC also opened an improved cardiac catheter lab to patients on Tuesday, after the addition of more than $900,000 in new technology and other items.

This helps expand Poplar Bluff Regional’s cardiac services, Jones said.

The renovations expand services for this area and are part of $4 million in special projects for the health care provider this year, Jones said during a ribbon cutting for the seventh-floor location.