Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital (NIACH) has expanded its services through the opening of a new 17-bed rehabilitation unit in Post Falls, Idaho. The inpatient rehabilitation unit will provide specialized rehabilitative care to more than 300 patients annually who have experienced disabilities caused by injuries, illnesses, or chronic medical conditions.

NIACH, operated by Ernest Health, is a long-term acute care facility specializing in critical care for patients recovering from serious illnesses or injuries. It shares a campus with Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest (RHN), a 30-bed medical rehabilitation hospital, which also is operated by Ernest Health. With the addition of NIACH’s new rehabilitation unit, the two hospitals will offer a combined total of 47 intensive medical rehabilitation beds on their shared campus.

“Bringing additional inpatient rehabilitative care to our Post Falls campus is a meaningful step forward in how we serve this region,” says Jake Socha, CEO and President of Ernest Health. “It allows us to expand our support for post-acute medical needs in an area we’ve proudly cared for over many years in addition to expanding on our current joint venture relationship with Kootenai Medical Center.”

According to Sara Ambrose, Chief Executive Officer of NIACH, the hospital will continue providing the same level of critical and long-term acute care to the area, while now helping to fulfill a growing need for specialized medical rehabilitation.

“Because of Ernest Health’s expertise in both medical fields, we’ve successfully incorporated the rehabilitation unit seamlessly into our facility,” Ambrose says. “We want to ensure that more patients have timely access to high-quality, rehabilitative care so they can maximize their recoveries, achieve optimal outcomes, and ultimately regain independence and quality of life.”

The hospital’s rehabilitation unit was created by reconfiguring existing areas within the facility. In addition to 17 new private patient rooms, NIACH’s inpatient rehabilitation unit includes a 3,700-square-foot therapy space featuring the latest in rehabilitative technology and equipment, an Activities of Daily Living suite that emulates home conditions, a warm water aquatic therapy pool with an electronic lift, and a therapeutic courtyard.

“Kootenai Health is proud to already partner with Ernest Health and Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest, and we are excited to see this expansion of care in our community with this new joint venture,” says Tim Swartz, Executive Director of Ancillary and Support Services at Kootenai Health. “These 17 additional inpatient rehabilitation beds will go a long way toward meeting the growing rehabilitative needs of our region and ensuring patients continue to receive the highest level of care close to home.”

Patients will be treated by an interdisciplinary healthcare team consisting of physicians; rehabilitation nurses; physical, speech, and occupational therapists; dietitians; case managers; respiratory therapists; pharmacists; and other healthcare professionals. The team will work with each patient and their family members to customize care plans, which will include a minimum of 15 hours a week of physical, occupational, or speech therapy, along with 24/7 rehabilitative nursing care.

“This approach ensures that our patients will receive the most effective and timely treatments tailored to their individual needs,” Ambrose says. “Our goal is to help our patients maximize their recoveries so they can return home quickly to the activities they enjoy.”

Ambrose adds, “We’re incredibly excited about the expansion of our services to support and enhance the post-acute medical needs in our community. We’re honored and privileged as a member of the healthcare community to be able to address the evolving healthcare needs of our neighbors.”