Select Medical

09/11/2026

Never forget.

09/09/2026

Small steps can lead to life-changing progress.

For people with a spinal cord injury (SCI), rehabilitation focuses on helping patients recover, improve movement and participate as fully as possible in everyday activities. Recovery often involves a combination of physical therapy, occupational therapy and other specialized treatments tailored to each patient's needs. Advanced technology also plays an important role.

One such technology is an exoskeleton, a wearable robotic device that can help appropriate patients participate in gait training, a therapy focused on standing and walking safely. The rehabilitation team carefully evaluates each individual's condition, abilities and goals to determine whether the technology may be beneficial. By supporting repetitive walking movements, exoskeletons may help reinforce communication pathways between the brain, spinal cord and muscles involved in movement.

During rehabilitation, patients use an exoskeleton to practice walking while therapists monitor gait and progress. The device can adjust the level of assistance based on each patient's individual needs and therapy goals. Exoskeleton’s also collect data on walking patterns and mobility, helping therapists identify challenges, monitor progress and make informed adjustments to treatment plans.

For some patients, the impact can be significant. “You talk about getting people who cannot stand and ambulate on their own, and you put them into an exoskeleton, and literally, in minutes, they are doing that very thing,” said Dr. Monifa Brooks, senior medical officer at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.

Many secondary complications associated with SCI can be linked to decreased mobility, making opportunities for standing and walking an important part of rehabilitation. Research on exoskeleton-assisted rehabilitation has identified several potential benefits beyond gait training, including pain management, reduced muscle tightness, maintenance of bone density, improved bowel and bladder function, better posture and body alignment and increased opportunities for exercise and physical activity.

As rehabilitation technology evolves, tools like the exoskeleton help patients with SCI participate more actively in therapy, increase opportunities for gait training and build strength, confidence and mobility throughout their rehabilitation journey.

09/07/2026

This Labor Day, we recognize all healthcare professionals who work tirelessly, dedicating themselves to the care and well-being of their patients.

09/03/2026

We’re proud to share Select Medical Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Bob Ortenzio has donated $1 million to support women’s sports. The gift will help create a nationally competitive women’s wrestling program at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania.

A highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences in historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

09/02/2026

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. and STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., Sept. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Select Medical Corporation and Corewell Health today announced a joint venture partnership to build and operate a new 84-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Sterling Heights, Mich., next to Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital.

The new four-story, state-of-the-art hospital will be dedicated to patients recovering from stroke, spinal cord and brain injuries, amputations and medically complex orthopedic conditions. It will feature modern spaces and advanced rehabilitative technology centered around each patient's care plan and recovery goals to restore function, mobility and independence.

"It is a privilege to build on our existing partnership with Corewell Health to bring world-class rehabilitation care to serve the growing needs across the Southeast Michigan region," said Tom Mullin, chief executive officer, Select Medical. "We have been partners since 2017 and now we are able to extend the post-acute care continuum allowing patients to experience a seamless recovery journey from initial admission in a Corewell Health acute care hospital through specialty post-acute care to discharging home and back to community."

To read the full press release, visit: https://www.selectmedical.com/media-center/news-and-articles/news/sm-and-corewell-health-form-joint-venture-to-build-new-irh-in-se-michigan/

09/02/2026

Back-to-school season is upon us. Whether you’ve already survived the first week or so, or are about to dive in, it can feel chaotic for many families. But it doesn’t have to.

Take this advice from our board-certified behavior analysts to make things a little easier.

1. No one likes abrupt changes. Gradually adjust routines like wake-up times, bedtimes and daily expectations and then make it consistent and predictable.

2. Practice makes perfect. Rehearse things like walking to school or the bus stop, using lunch boxes, wearing backpacks and unlocking combination locks for lockers. It’s these little details that often get forgotten.

3. Prepare for big feelings. Don’t try to remove the anxiety, sadness or frustration. Instead, listen to your child and validate their feelings of concern or worry.

4. Plan time to reconnect during a busy week, like a family game night, movie night or nightly walks as a family. This communication opens the door for trust and to identify concerns before they become bigger challenges.

5. Read our latest blog to learn more strategies from pediatric specialists to help your child transition back to school, like how to set screen time boundaries, when to incorporate extracurricular activities and the extra support that may help children with special needs. Link in comments.

09/01/2026

Support adaptive strategies. Celebrate independence.

A spinal cord injury (SCI) can disrupt many elements of an individual’s life, starting with the brain’s ability to communicate with the rest of the body. When those messages are interrupted, important functions like blood pressure, heart rate and temperature regulation can be affected. So can movement, sensation and many actions used to accomplish everyday activities.

Recovery after a spinal cord injury takes time, teamwork and personalized care. We provide that through specialized rehabilitation services that help patients rebuild strength, restore skills and learn adaptive strategies for daily-living; all of which fosters greater independence at home and in the community.

As patients progress toward their rehabilitation goals, planning a successful transition beyond the hospital becomes an important part of recovery. The care team monitors a patient’s progress, adjusts their treatment plans, helps equip them with assistive devices, if needed, and prepares them for discharge. Our care team also educates them on the next level of care such as outpatient or home health – and informs them about community resources to support their next steps.

08/31/2026

Jan Hooks was the picture of health.

At 60, she spent her days running a farm, caring for rescue dogs and staying active from sunrise to sunset.
Then she started feeling unusually tired.

Sometimes she pulled over to take short naps before continuing her day. She chalked it up to long hours and hard work.

She was wrong.

The fatigue was a warning sign of a serious heart problem.

What happened next would change her life in an instant.

08/28/2026

Margie Stump was enjoying retirement and time with her family when a sudden health crisis led to major heart surgery and weeks on a ventilator. After Margie stabilized, the Etna, Ohio woman transitioned to Select Specialty Hospital - Columbus for extended healing. She couldn't breathe, eat, walk, talk or think clearly and her future was uncertain.

The physician-led, multidisciplinary team put together an individualized treatment plan and 25 days later, Margie was sharing conversations with her children, enjoying a hamburger and walking the halls. Today, Margie is home, continuing her recovery and looking ahead with confidence and faith.

Read Margie's story: https://bit.ly/4x5i7rH

08/26/2026

Joe Mastronardi, a 34-year-old account manager who lived in Hoboken, New Jersey, spent his time building his career, playing and watching sports and socializing with friends. The last thing on his mind was a life-threatening infection and stroke. A roommate and another friend noticed Joe didn’t look right, an ambulance was called. Joe was diagnosed with an infection around his heart and he had suffered a stroke. After treatment, Joe was unable to walk, talk or even hold his head up.

To regain function, mobility and independence, Joe transferred to Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - West Orange. With intense therapy and a lot of support from his family and friends, Joe made great progress and is now walking with assistance, eating and able to care for himself.

Read Joe’s story: https://bit.ly/4gpuho0