Excellence Through Experience
by Ann E. Butenas
MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital combines advanced technology with compassionate care to help patients return home.
MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital, part of Encompass Health – the nation’s largest provider of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals – stands at the forefront of rehabilitation excellence. Recently, Encompass Health achieved notable recognition from Forbes, ranking fourth among healthcare equipment and services categories on their inaugural list of Most Trusted Companies in America. This prestigious recognition came after Forbes evaluated more than 2,000 large U.S.-based public companies across customer trust, employee trust, investor trust, and media sentiment.
“Our Certified Rehabilitation RNs and skilled therapists provide high quality, compassionate care from the moment the patient arrives”
With a network of 166 hospitals across 38 states and Puerto Rico, Encompass Health combines the resources of a national healthcare leader with personalized, community-focused care. For MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas, this backing translates into superior patient care and overall outcomes. The hospital’s success is particularly crucial for the region, as it serves patients from across Kansas and Missouri, working closely with level one trauma centers in both states to provide specialized rehabilitation care for complex cases.
The hospital’s approach to rehabilitation is comprehensive and individualized, providing patients with three hours of therapy five days a week and round-the-clock nursing care from rehabilitation-specialized nurses. This intensive care model has proven remarkably successful, with the hospital achieving outstanding outcomes across various conditions in 2024. The specialized care includes physical therapy for mobility and strength, occupational therapy for daily living activities, and speech therapy for communication and swallowing difficulties, all coordinated under careful medical supervision.
“Patients seek our care after experiencing a life-altering event like a Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, or Traumatic Brain Injury,” explained Jenn Saathoff, MHS, L/SLP, Business Development Director. “The patients and their families are often scared or even angry when they arrive at our hospital. Our Certified Rehabilitation RNs and skilled therapists provide high quality, compassionate care from the moment the patient arrives.”
The hospital’s commitment to excellence is evidenced by its multiple certifications from The Joint Commission, not only as a whole facility but also in five specific disease areas: Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, Parkinson’s, and Limb Loss. These certifications, Saathoff noted, “provide an inherent level of trust that we are going above and beyond to remain at the forefront of healthcare expectations.” These specialized certifications demonstrate the hospital’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards of care across a range of complex conditions.
PROVEN OUTCOMES, REMARKABLE RESULTS
Sara Crow, MA CCC-SLP, CDCM, Certified Director of Case Management, shared the hospital’s impressive 2024 discharge statistics:
* Nearly 82% of all patients returned home at discharge
* 80% of patients with neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s, discharged home
* 82% of patients with Brain Injuries discharged home
* 79% of stroke patients discharged home, exceeding Medicare’s expectations based on medical complexity
* 80% of spinal cord injury patients discharged home, surpassing Medicare’s expectations
* 86% of multi-trauma patients discharged home
* 78% of patients with lower extremity amputations discharged home, exceeding Medicare’s expectations
* 93% of patients with cardiac diagnoses discharged home
* 79% of patients with hip fractures and weightbearing challenges discharged home
MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital’s multidisciplinary team includes physical, occupational, and speech therapists, physicians, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and case managers. Each patient receives attention from an internal medicine physician within 48 hours of arrival and a rehabilitation physician within 72 hours, ensuring comprehensive medical oversight throughout their stay. This coordinated care approach ensures all aspects of a patient’s recovery are carefully monitored and adjusted as needed.
The hospital’s success with complex cases is particularly noteworthy given its role in serving level one trauma centers across Kansas and Missouri. These partnerships allow for seamless transitions from acute care to rehabilitation, ensuring patients receive specialized care at the most appropriate time in their recovery journey.
Paul Matlack
EMBRACING TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT
As rehabilitation technology evolves, MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital remains at the forefront of innovation. Paul Matlack, OT/L, Senior Director of Therapy Operations, sees technology as a driving force in rehabilitation’s future.
“Robotics continue to be developed and implemented into our evaluation and treatment of so many medical conditions,” Matlack emphasized. “New trends in smaller electronics and wearables are starting to emerge recently. The newest trends are in Artificial Intelligence. It is only a matter of time when every person needing or performing rehabilitation will be using A.I. in some innovative way.”
The hospital has already implemented various cutting-edge technologies, including virtual reality equipment to improve upper extremity strength, coordination, and functional tasks like cooking and getting dressed. This commitment to technological advancement supports their comprehensive approach to rehabilitation, which addresses everything from strength building and mobility to medication management and pain control. The integration of advanced technology with traditional therapy techniques allows for more efficient and effective rehabilitation programs.
ADDRESSING COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
A common concern among patients and families is whether someone can tolerate three hours of daily therapy given their functional deficits. Another frequent misconception is that the typical 7–14-day length of stay isn’t sufficient for regaining independence. MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital addresses these concerns through open, honest conversations that begin while patients are still in acute care and continue throughout their rehabilitation journey.
“We are the experts in these diseases and have confidence in providing the best rehabilitation experience for a functional return to community living,” noted Saathoff. The hospital’s impressive discharge statistics demonstrate that their approach works, with many patients across all conditions returning home successfully. Their experience shows that intensive, specialized rehabilitation can achieve remarkable results in a relatively short time when delivered by skilled professionals in a comprehensive program.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT REHABILITATION HOSPITAL
When selecting a rehabilitation facility, MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital encourages patients and families to ask several important questions, including:
* How often will a rehabilitation physician see the patient?
* Are all necessary team members available on site?
* What is the daily therapy schedule and how many hours will the patient receive?
* What is the staffing ratio for licensed nurses?
* Are the nurses certified in rehabilitation (CRRN) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)?
MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital meets these essential criteria with its comprehensive care team, frequent physician visits, intensive therapy schedule, and specialized nursing staff. Each element of care is carefully coordinated to support optimal recovery outcomes. The hospital’s approach to rehabilitation is built on decades of experience and evidence-based practices, ensuring patients receive the most effective treatments for their specific conditions.
From the moment patients arrive, they experience the hospital’s core values of Comfort, Professionalism, and Respect. For those considering rehabilitation options, MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital stands out by providing clear answers to crucial questions about physician oversight, team composition, therapy intensity, and nursing qualifications. As part of Encompass Health’s network, they combine the resources of a national healthcare leader with the personalized care of a community hospital.
Through their combination of expert care, advanced technology, and compassionate approach, MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital continues to help patients navigate their recovery journey and return to their communities with the highest possible level of independence. The success of a patient’s rehabilitation journey depends significantly on choosing the right facility with the right expertise, resources, and commitment to excellence. MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital stands ready to meet that call.
For more information on MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital
5701 W 110th Street Overland Park, KS 66211 913-491-2400
https://encompasshealth.com/midamericarehab
