A joint venture between West Tennessee Healthcare and HealthSouth means West Tennessee will be getting a new inpatient rehabilitation facility. With construction on the state-of-the-art facility underway, CEO Julie Taylor is wearing many hats as she handles the day to day operations of the current rehab unit housed within Jackson General Hospital while also planning for the transition to the new facility.
West Tennessee is home for Taylor, who grew up in Puryear, Tennessee. She attended University of Tennessee at Martin finishing up her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy at UT Health Science Center in 1991. The bulk of her experience has been in post-acute rehabilitation across a diverse range of settings throughout West Tennessee including home health as well as 14 years in pediatrics. Taylor is currently working on her MBA through Bethel University with plans to complete in 2017.
“I have a passion for working with people who have mobility limitations and enjoy seeing those patients meet their functional goals. I received my certification as an assistive technology practitioner in 2002, and performed evaluations for custom wheelchairs for kids and adults,” said Taylor. “When I joined the staff at Therapy and Learning Center, which is a part of West Tennessee Healthcare, I worked with special needs kids and managed the specialty programs including wheelchair clinic, the adult program, and hippotherapy.”
Taylor shifted to a larger management role when she took a position as an Area Rehab Director for a home care company. “We had a strong focus on vestibular rehabilitation and focused on the basics of how to get a patient back to independent living,” said Taylor. “In addition to that, I trained therapists across West Tennessee in best practices in home health. “
It was a call from a recruiter from Chicago that brought Taylor back to West Tennessee Healthcare and into inpatient rehabilitation. “West Tennessee Healthcare entered into an agreement with a rehab company to run the 48-bed unit and I became the program director three years ago,” she said. “When the joint venture with HealthSouth to own and operate was formed, I went to work for HealthSouth. On January 1 of this year, I was named CEO for the new facility that is currently under construction. I am tasked with managing the unit, construction meetings, ensuring we will be prepared to pass our Joint Commission Accreditation when the hospital opens, as well as, formulating a plan for transitioning patients, staff and physicians to the new facility once it is complete. “
On the unit side of things, Taylor says her responsibilities are basically the same as they have been for the past three years. “We strive every day to provide our patients with excellent care while working to get each patient functionally independent in order to return home,” she said. We have an exceptional rehab unit with an average daily census of 37 patients.”
The new 55,000 square-foot facility will be located at 616 West Forest Avenue. Initially the new hospital will have 48 private patient rooms when it opens in July 2017, but room for growth has been factored into the plans for the new building. The facility will also include a large therapy gym, an activities of daily living suite, a dining room, a courtyard and visitor amenities.
The building will be one story, with a U-shape design for accessibility, and is conducive to working as a team. Therapy, dining and administration will be on one side with patient rooms located on the other. Nursing stations will be strategically located with views of both sides. Cost estimates for the facility are projected to be in the $20 million range.
The new facility will retain its current interdisciplinary team approach that includes physicians, registered nurses, patient care technicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, social workers and administrative support staff. Rehabilitation works best with a diverse team of rehab experts working together to develop a treatment plan specific to each patient.
One feature that will be added once they have settled into the new facility is REAL therapy. “Realistic Environmental Applied Learning. It allows us to assess a patient across simulated real life events. You may be able to lift your arm 20 times and have good strength, but if you cannot put that into practice and use, it is not really going to help you be independent again,” she said. “We hope to add this therapy after we open and we already have the space allocated for it.”
Having HealthSouth and West Tennessee Healthcare to lean on through the transition provides Taylor with a wealth of resources to draw from. “I am thankful to be able to tap into the resources of both entities to make sure we are operating the best we can and moving forward,” she said. “HealthSouth has built hospitals across the country and moving a unit into a new building is nothing new for them. In early 2017, a HealthSouth regional team will be on site to ensure a seamless transition process of discharging patients from the unit into the hospital.”
Taylor sees herself as the link between the two entities as well as an advocate for patients and employees. Communication is vital, as well as, involving staff in the process. “My theory is to over communicate to the staff as well as have them take ownership in the process. “I’m excited and grateful to be a part of this joint venture. We have an experienced and talented team, and I am proud to serve alongside them during this transition.”
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