Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute opens in Forest Lake

from: http://forestlaketimes.com/2014/06/18/courage-kenny-rehabilitation-institute-opens-in-forest-lake/

By The Forest Lake Times

June 18, 2014 at 11:01 am

Two therapy businesses merge

Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute opened March 26 at 1467 S. Lake St. in Forest Lake. (Photos by Kailey Hanson)

Kailey HansonTimes Intern

This spring, 1467 S. Lake St. became the physical juncture of the Courage Center and the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute in Forest Lake.

In June 2013 the two organizations merged under Allina Health to become Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, the first collaboration of the new company. The Courage Center had been located at 146 N. Lake St., while the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute held residency at 555 W. Broadway Ave.

“When Allina Health, Sister Kenny and Courage Center merged together, that was able to give us that opportunity to join two separate physical locations into one,” said regional manager Steven Scherger. “The merger really brought them together organizationally, operationally, and this is the first physical merger, per se, of the organization.”

Courage Kenny’s specialties cover physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.

Physical therapy involves muscles, bones, ambulation and mobility. Occupational therapy focuses on functional mobility, cognition, thoughts and sensory integration. Speech therapy targets communication and oral motor skills.

“The spectrum of services that we offer is entirely comprehensive,” Scherger said.

At the new facility, Courage Kenny employs nine therapists, two provider coordinators and one rehabilitation aide. No layoffs were made in the transition.

With the compilation of the two businesses, the number of patients has increased significantly, averaging between 70-80 patients in a day.

The new location has rooms that provide therapeutic equipment targeted for patients’ specific therapies. The new Courage Kenny facility, at 5,000 square feet, holds six adult treatment rooms, four pediatric treatment rooms, an adult speech room, a pelvic pain and incontinence room, a kitchen, an adult gym and a pediatric gym.

The pediatric gym includes a ball pit, swings and a climbing wall for young patients as a reward for finishing therapy.

Dale Olson works on a squatting exercise with a therapist at the new Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute.

The adult occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech pathology areas are separated.

“The speech and pediatric rooms utilize extra drywall and sound mitigation ‘green glue’ to reduce noise transfer between rooms,” Scherger said. “This helps the patient focus more on their treatment.”

Being across the street from the Allina Medical Clinic allows patients there to have easy access to therapy.

“It really highlights Allina’s commitment to Forest Lake and the patients that are out here and the population that we serve out here,” Scherger said. “I’m really excited to see the collaboration that’s occurred and manifests in this site, and it highlights the good work we can do here in Forest Lake.”

The facility is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.