Friday, August 16, 2002

Southern Regional decides to wait on building an acute rehabilitation center

Southern Regional Health System announced recently it has withdrawn its application to launch an in-patient acute rehabilitation program, to consider updates in state's data for reviewing such projects.

Southern Regional's inpatient rehab center would be only the second such center in south Metro Atlanta.

"There remains a great need for a rehab program in our area, and we hope to serve that need. We are pulling back at this time to evaluate new application considerations from the state," said Rick Smith, PR and marketing director at Southern Regional Health System.

Georgia hospitals must obtain a certificate of need from state health planning regulators in order to open new facilities such as inpatient rehab centers. Regulators told Southern Regional recently that additional information was being added to the review process, including revised census data and other statistical considerations.

Currently there is only one inpatient rehab facility in the south metro area, compared with more than 15 north of Interstate 20. Most Southside acute rehab patients now receive treatment in north Atlanta or even at Warm Springs, more than 60 miles away to the south.

"The current situation is unfortunate for many south Atlanta residents and families alike," Smith said. "We are confident we can show that our hospital is well equipped to meet the need for more acute rehab services. But our project team has to weigh these adjustments in the application process."

Southern Regional Health System provides comprehensive health resources including: Southern Regional Medical Center, a 406-bed, full-service hospital in Riverdale, featuring a state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center, a women's center, a Diabetes Resource Center and one of the busiest and best emergency departments in the state; RiverWoods, Southern Regional Psychiatric Center, a psychiatric facility with a complete continuum of behavioral care services; Southern Regional Homecare, a home health agency providing home health services and the Surgery Center at Mt. Zion, a multi-specialty surgery center in Morrow, Ga.