Building Independence
Story by Ann E. Butenas
Inside the Overland Park hospital where teamwork, technology and heart help patients reclaim their lives after serious injury or illness.
When patients arrive at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital in Overland Park, they are often facing the hardest chapter of their lives. Strokes, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputations, or Parkinson’s disease- all these conditions tend to arrive without warning, upending a patient’s body and an entire family’s sense of normal. What happens next, according to the dedicated team of skilled caregivers at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital is a coordinated effort to help patients rebuild independence, one milestone at a time.
MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital was named to Newsweek’s 2025 list of Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers, an honor shared among 320 facilities nationwide. For Britni Green, CEO of the hospital, the recognition reflects something far greater than any single award: the makeup of the team itself.
“MidAmerica has a healthy mix of employees, from long-tenured staff to employees with five to 10 years of experience to newer graduates,” Green said. “That blend of experience and fresh perspective helps foster continuous learning and ensures patients benefit from both seasoned expertise and innovative approaches to care.”
“We also have five Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care Certifications for stroke, spinal cord, brain injury, amputee and Parkinson’s disease rehabilitation,” Green further emphasized. “These certifications reflect our commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care while maintaining the highest standards of patient safety and clinical excellence.”
MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital is well established in the community and maintains strong relationships across the local healthcare network.
“Our internal medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians are board-certified, and many hold additional certifications in rehabilitation-related specialties,” Green indicated. “Our deep clinical expertise and community connections help ensure seamless coordination of care and support positive outcomes for our patients.”
Brain Injury Team
A Track Record Built on Teamwork
More than 80% of MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital’s patients return to their communities after treatment, a statistic Green attributed to a culture of collaboration rather than any single factor.
“Teamwork and collaboration are at the heart of those outcomes,” Green said. “Our physicians, case managers, therapists, nurses and pharmacists work closely together to develop individualized care plans and ensure patients continue progressing throughout their stay with us.”
MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital’s shared goal is to help patients regain as much independence as possible and return to the activities they enjoy and the people they love.
Green expressed, “While life may not always look exactly the same after a serious illness or injury, our team is committed to helping patients build confidence, maximize their abilities and achieve the highest quality of life possible.”
That reputation extends beyond Overland Park. MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital works closely with Level I trauma centers across Kansas and Missouri on complex cases.
“MidAmerica is well known for the care we provide and our ability to meet the functional and medical needs of patients with complex conditions,” Green said. “Our reputation and strong relationships within the medical community often result in direct referrals of these cases.” She pointed to the hospital’s medical director Dr. Cielo Navato-Dehning, M.D., who has worked at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital for more than 20 years and specializes in spinal cord injury rehabilitation, as an example.
“As a result, physicians frequently refer patients with new spinal cord injuries directly to her care,” Green said.
Program champions of MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital’s Joint Commission-certified disease specific teams (Stroke, Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Amputation, and Parkinson’s Disease)
Technology That Anticipates, Not Just Reacts
Behind the scenes, MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital leans on clinical models developed by Encompass Health, its parent company, including REACT, a fall-risk prediction tool and a readmission-prediction tool, all built into patients’ individualized care plans.
“REACT and our predictive clinical tools help us take a more proactive approach to patient care,” Green said. “These models identify patients who may be at greater risk for complications, delayed progress, falls or readmission so we can intervene earlier and more effectively.”
Rather than relying solely on what has already happened, REACT provides the hospital’s care teams with actionable insights that help anticipate patient needs and tailor treatment plans accordingly.
“Together, these tools help our interdisciplinary teams make informed decisions, improve safety and support the best possible outcomes for our patients,” Green noted.
That kind of proactive care requires round-the-clock commitment from staff. MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital patients receive three hours of therapy five days a week, along with 24/7 specialized nursing care, a pace Green said demands a highly skilled and deeply committed team.
“That level of care is only possible because our employees are passionate about what they do,” Green reflected. “They bring compassion, professionalism and respect to every patient interaction.”
Stroke Team
What the Numbers Don’t Capture
Encompass Health received the 2025 NRC Health Excellence in Patient Experience Award, ranking among the top three large U.S. health systems. But Green said statistics don’t tell the whole story of what patients notice most.
“I think what patients notice most is the dedication of the people caring for them,” Green said. “Awards and statistics are important because they reflect the quality of care we provide, but they don’t always capture the human connections that take place every day.”
The hospital’s greatest strength is its people.
“We have a fantastic team, and above all else, their compassion, collaboration and dedication shine through. I believe that’s what patients remember long after they leave our care,” expressed Green. “Recently, I was rounding on a patient who had been homebound for several years. Her health had continued to deteriorate, and her circle continued to get smaller. She came to MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital determined to change the course of the rest of her life.”
Over the course of her stay, Green watched the woman’s outlook continue to brighten.
“She celebrated small but meaningful milestones, such as standing up, getting dressed and putting her shoes on,” Green said. “Those are everyday activities many of us take for granted, but for her, they represented progress toward independence.”
That experience reminded Green of why this work matters.
“Our team didn’t just help her improve physically,” she said. “We gave her hope, confidence and a reason to believe in what was possible.”
Parkinson’s Disease Team
Amputation Team
Spinal Cord Injury Team
Part of a Larger Mission
MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital’s success is also shaped by its place within Encompass Health’s national network of 176 hospitals across 39 states and Puerto Rico.
“One of the greatest benefits of being part of a national organization is the ability to share knowledge, resources and best practices across our hospitals,” Green said. “Encompass Health’s sole focus is inpatient rehabilitation, so our teams benefit from the expertise of an organization that is dedicated exclusively to helping patients recover from serious injuries and illnesses.”
As Encompass Health continues to grow, so does the awareness of its brand and the quality of care it provides.
“We’ve cared for patients whose family members previously received treatment at another Encompass Health hospital and specifically requested MidAmerica because of the positive experience they had elsewhere,” emphasized Green. “That’s a powerful testament to the consistency of care delivered across our network and the trust patients place in our hospitals.”
Inpatient rehabilitation is a special level of care. As post-acute caregivers, MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital’s clinicians can see significant transformation in a relatively short period of time. The injury or illness that brings patients into their care often occurs in an instant. One moment, they are living their lives, and the next, they are facing a life-changing injury or illness. The impact is sudden, not only for the patients but also for their families.
“While I am no longer a frontline caregiver, I still find great fulfillment in seeing our patients progress,” Green smiled. “I enjoy supporting our staff as they carry out their purpose of serving the patients and families who trust us with their care, and I am proud to play a role in helping them succeed.”
Tiffany Kiehl, president of Encompass Health’s Central Region, has watched that culture play out across two decades with the company. This year, Encompass Health was named to Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies list for a sixth consecutive year and to Forbes’ 2026 America’s Best Companies list, a recognition Kiehl said reflects something bigger than any one hospital.
“These distinctions underscore the company’s continued excellence in patient care, corporate culture and long-term performance,” Kiehl said. “They are also a tribute to the more than 40,000 Encompass Health employees nationwide who are committed to a culture of excellence.”
MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital sets high standards for its employees and provides outstanding support.
“We truly believe we are stronger together,” Kiehl indicated. “Collectively, we pursue excellence through continuous growth and ensuring quality care is part of every interaction. Our culture is built on trust, which includes trust with each other and trust with our patients and their loved ones.”
Newsweek and Statista also named Encompass Health “America’s Most Awarded Leader in Inpatient Rehabilitation,” with 66 of its hospitals featured on the 2025 Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers list. For Kiehl, who has spent more than 20 years with the company, the honor is personal.
“I believe in the work we do, the patients we serve and the communities we impact,” she noted. “It’s an honor to be part of an organization that prioritizes patients’ recovery and rehabilitation every single day.”
The company was also named to Modern Healthcare’s and Becker’s Healthcare’s “Best Places to Work” lists for 2026.
“Encompass Health recognizes the value of each individual,” Kiehl said. “We ensure our employees have the appropriate resources, and we provide growth and advancement opportunities.”
Drs. Lueder, Navato-Dehning, and Shelton, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation physicians at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital
What is also unique about Encompass Health is the collaboration and connection its employees have through its vast network of hospitals, as its teams can effectively communicate with experts and clinicians across the country to gain more knowledge and insights. As a result, they are positioned to better serve their patients.
“Most importantly, we see the strong recoveries our patients make,” Kiehl said. “We celebrate their journeys in returning to independent lives. There is great fulfillment in being part of this important work. It’s what makes Encompass Health the best place to work.”
For patients and families across the Kansas City area facing a sudden, life-altering diagnosis, that combination of experienced local caregivers backed by a national network’s resources is what stands behind MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital’s reputation.
