Medina Memorial sees growth with subacute rehab

Program offers physical, occupational and speech therapies

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Gary Wakefield of Lyndonville is surrounded by personnel in Medina Memorial Hospital, where he is a patient in the sub-acute rehab wing. From left are Josh Hotz, physical therapy assistant; Amanda Luckman, admissions coordinator; Randi Ingersoll, director of care management; Wakefield; and Mackenna Fagan, certified occupational therapy assistant.

MEDINA – Not only is Medina Memorial Hospital celebrating its 100th anniversary during 2025, but it is also basking in the successful growth of its subacute rehab program.

According to Scott Robinson, director of Marketing, Communication and Outreach at Orleans Community Health, during 2024, Medina Memorial Hospital’s transitional care unit/subacute rehab doubled the number of patients served. In addition, the hospital has developed a very successful partnership with Orchard Manor which is providing dialysis patients with transportation, allowing them to get care close to home.

Amanda Luckman, admissions coordinator, said they had been able to double admissions and maintain that high census throughout the past two years. She explained a subacute rehab is able to offer three different therapies – physical therapy, occupational therapy (for daily living) and speech therapy.

“Our goal for subacute therapy is to get the patient back to their physical baseline,” said Randi Ingersoll, director of care management. “It is important for the community to know when they have an injury or illness and can’t do the things they did before, they can come here for subacute rehab.”

Luckman added the hospital now accepts most insurance plans. If a patient needs a longer stay than initially approved, they can work around that. She also explained a newly developed relationship with Orchard Manor means if a patient needs a long-term stay, the hospital will send them there.

Gary Wakefield of Lyndonville was recently admitted to Medina Hospital for rehab and praised the care he was getting.

“It is really great that I can get the rehab I need close to home,” Wakefield said. “The crew here are wonderful. I’d recommend this to anyone.”

Another important advance in care for the hospital and their relationship with Orchard Manor is offering medical transportation, which enables the hospital to transport Orchard Manor patients to Lake Plains dialysis.

“We have been able to continue enhancing our relationship with Orchard Manor by being able to send them more patients who are already on dialysis at our Lake Plains Center,” Ingersoll said. “It has made the discharge planning process smoother, as patients now do not have to worry about how they will get their treatments. It has been a relief to all of us involved in the patient’s care, as well as their families.”

Robinson said Orleans Community Health has two handicap accessible vans in service. Since last September one has been dedicated to dialysis patients.

Luckman said the hospital has been working closely with Rochester Regional Health to welcome even more dialysis patients.

“From an admissions standpoint, having a referral requiring dialysis can be more rigorous because of the issue of transportation,” she said. “Through our partnership with Lake Plains Dialysis, we are able to help more community members receive exceptional therapy and dialysis. We have even had cases from our Batavia dialysis site who were able to come to Medina while having rehab. It is comforting to know we are able to provide our own reliable transportation to and from dialysis.”

Ingersoll added it is important for people to know they can choose where they want to go for rehab.

“We have pre-registry, so if a patient knows they are having surgery and going to need rehab, they can call me and let me know they are going to need a bed,” Luckman said. “I like to tell people there are benefits to coming here for rehab. We have private rooms, intense but kind therapists and, being in a hospital setting, there is a doctor available 24/7. Another benefit is if a patient needs an IV or antibiotic, we can administer that.”

The staff is very proud of their growth during the past several years. When Ingersoll started working at the hospital in 2021, she said the average daily census in rehab was six. It has been 16 for the past two years. For the year, 122 patients were served, and that number for the past two years has doubled to 244.

“We are looking to grow even more,” Ingersoll said.

The rehab unit has the capacity to hold 22 patients.

The hospital has also developed a relationship with Hospice, which has temporarily closed or paused the Martin-Linsin residence in Albion.

“Since Hospice closed the Martin-Linsin residence, we have a contract with them and have designated two rooms for hospice patients,” Luckman said.

She said most insurance companies will cover their stay.