Winer
The new WellSpan Surgery and Rehabilitation Hospital will open Monday, April 23, at the Apple Hill Campus, 55 Monument Road, York Township.

Offering orthopedic, spine and neurosurgical treatment and inpatient rehabilitation, the 73-bed hospital is beginning with a 150-member staff but is expected to have about 250 employees once it is running at full capacity, said Barbara A. Yarrish, vice president of operations.

Construction began in the spring of 2010, and the $71 million cost of completion is under budget from the original projections, Yarrish said.

“This facility is an important milestone in what has been WellSpan's journey to create a hopefully seamless line of care for patients in our community,” said Richard Seim, senior vice president of WellSpan and president of specialty services.

The facilities: The four operating rooms are 680 square feet, providing ample space for procedures compared to average-sized operating rooms of 200 square feet.

Movable overhead monitors allow more space and give everyone in the operating room a clear view of what is happening.

“It's a surgeon's dream to have the instruments that let us use our training,” said Dr. Joel Winer, a neurosurgeon who has been with WellSpan for 21 years. “It's state-of-the-art equipment, and you will see this in other hospitals five years from now.”

The rehabilitation therapy gym includes a driving simulator, balance simulator, Armeo Spring for arm function, and an interactive metronome that can be used for physical, speech or occupational therapy.

“People need intensity, repetition, and feeback and a lot of these provides all three, and that allows for neuroplasticity,” said Betsy Trumble, rehabilitation manager.An outdoor area that has a putting range and basketball hoop also features different surfaces like stones, concrete, grass and steps that patients will need to negotiate at home.

“This motivates patients to work on therapy while not really thinking about it,” said Alicia Fry, clinical supervisor for occupational therapy.

Ready to go: The last stop before patients are discharged may be a stay in the Stepping Stone Suite, which is set up to resemble a real apartment with a full bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and laundry.

Patients can stay in the suite as a trial run before returning home, with a call button for nurses still available.

The brain injury unit provides a low-stimulus environment with eight specialized rooms close to a central nursing desk. Pull-out sofas are in the rooms to accommodate family members, and there is a ceiling lift system to increase patient safety.

Anyone interested in touring the new facility may visit the community open house from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 15.