The Lehigh Valley’s vast healthcare system is expanding with a unique new addition.

On July 30, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation opened the region’s first freestanding rehabilitation hospital, to serve as a destination for complex medical rehabilitation for people recovering from strokes, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, illnesses, and surgeries. 

The $70 million, 123,000-square-foot hospital in Upper Saucon Township features 76 private rooms and rehabilitation-inspired artwork on four floors. Spacious therapy gyms on three floors are filled with state-of-the art rehabilitation technologies to help people regain function and independence. 

“In 1967, Good Shepherd opened its first rehabilitation hospital in South Allentown, a 22-bed facility. In 1983, it was expanded to 76 beds,” said Good Shepherd Rehabilitation President and CEO Michael Spigel. “We will write the next chapter of our storied history, and further the legacy of Good Shepherd, through this astounding new building. It will provide our team an amazing place to deliver even more incredible care to our patients who place their trust in Good Shepherd.”

“This new hospital opens the door for emerging technologies and opportunities that allows Good Shepherd’s doctors, nurses, and therapists to grow as thought leaders and for Good Shepherd to expand as a research and testing hub for manufacturers of new devices,” said Sandeep Singh, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs. “Blending leading-edge rehabilitation with the expertise and compassion of our team will empower patients to live lives full of possibilities.”

The Lehigh Valley’s robust health care network contributes to the growing region’s high quality of life, a factor that makes the region enticing for businesses to locate and expand.

More than 61,000 people work in the health care and social services industry in the Lehigh Valley, making it the largest sector of the workforce. Employment has been growing at an annualized rate of 1.7% over the past five years. Good Shepherd employes 1,200 people in the Lehigh Valley and another 900 in the greater Philadelphia region.

Good Shepherd expects to expand its workforce by about 50 positions to staff the new facility, which will replace the inpatient rehabilitation hospital services at Good Shepherd’s location in Allentown. Good Shepherd will continue to provide other services on the Allentown campus, including outpatient care, long-term care, and independent living.

Good Shepherd is developing plans to repurpose the former rehabilitation hospital building in Allentown. The new hospital is located on a 45-acre site with room to expand.

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital features a demonstration and education space, Empower+, that is open to the public. Visitors can experience and experiment with leading-edge and innovative technologies and services that help people live life undefined by diagnosis, disease, or injury. Empower+ features a 3D printing lab where rehabilitation devices can be manufactured on site, done in partnership with Moravian University,

There are rooms set up like homes so patients can practice common tasks such as doing laundry, washing dishes, and getting in and out of bed.

The hospital’s Outdoor Therapy and Activity Gardens, which will be completed in September, will include a putting green, trails, and green space. The gardens will be a space where patients can participate in therapy in innovative ways with the goal of being able to return to their favorite activities.

Good Shepherd is an independent, not-for-profit rehabilitation network with more than 60 locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Headquartered in Allentown, it specializes in treating spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, major multi-trauma, pulmonary disease, respiratory failure, musculoskeletal/orthopedics, and complex pediatric conditions. Good Shepherd partners with Penn Medicine to provide rehabilitation and specialty services in the greater Philadelphia area and New Jersey through Good Shepherd Penn Partners.

Editor's Note: Good Shepherd President and CEO Michael Spigel was interviewed by Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. as part of LVEDC’s Executive Interview Series. Watch the video of the interview here.

(Photos courtesy of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital).