Northern Dutchess Hospital’s rehabilitation center turns 25, earns reaccreditation

Northern Dutchess Hospital’s rehabilitation center, which has been caring for patients for the past 25 years, recently achieved re-accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

The hospital’s Paul Rosenthal Rehabilitation Center, built in 1997, received a three-year accreditation after undergoing an in-depth on-site review of by CARF.

“This is the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to us,” rehabilitation unit supervisor Carolyn Mayer said. “We put ourselves through a rigorous peer-review process, demonstrating to a team of surveyors during a site inspection our commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable and of high quality.”

CARF is an independent nonprofit that provides a framework, then advises hospitals on how to improve the quality of rehabilitation care.

The Paul Rosenthal center cares for more than 200 patients annually, who need a higher level of rehabilitation than a skilled nursing facility. After a stroke, brain injury, orthopedic surgery, neurological condition and even severe COVID-19, some patients require around-the-clock nursing care and therapies to regain function.

Dr. Ramazan Pekis, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, is the medical director of the center. And, a skilled team provides three hours of physical, occupational and speech-language therapies to patients five-to-six times weekly.

The rehabilitation center offers seven private patient rooms, a spacious therapy gym and a community dining room, as well as pet therapy and more.

For information about CARF, visit www.carf.org. For information about rehabilitation at Northern Dutchess, visit www.nuvancehealth.org/NDH or call 845-871-4313 (TTY/Accessibility 1-800-421-1220).