For Immediate Release
December 18, 2007
Contact: Michael Valentino
732-751-7538
mvalentino@meridianhealth.com

MERIDIAN NURSING AND REHABILITATION OPENS BRAND NEW CENTER IN SHREWSBURY

Over 70 patients relocated from Red Bank to Shrewsbury as highly anticipated new state-of-the-art skilled nursing and rehabilitation center opens

Neptune, NJ - With a fleet of ambulances and shuttle buses, over 70 patients and residents of Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation at Red Bank moved today into their new home at a brand new center in Shrewsbury. Located off Route 35 on Avenue at the Common, the new Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation at Shrewsbury is a 63,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility offering the very latest in rehabilitative and post-hospital care.

Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation is one of New Jersey’s leading not-for-profit providers of skilled nursing care and rehabilitation, with centers in Brick and Ocean Grove, as well as a new subacute rehabilitation center in Wall. Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation is also a member of Meridian Health, which includes Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Jersey Shore University Medical Center and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune, and Ocean Medical Center in Brick.

“Both patients and staff are incredibly excited about this beautiful new center in Shrewsbury,” says Ken Aber, vice president of Long Term and Rehabilitative Care. “With this new center, we are able to bring the same high level of care and compassion our residents have received from our previous location, provided now in an incredible environment with many new amenities and advanced services and technology.”

The 130-bed facility provides post-hospital and surgical care, physical rehabilitation, and long term residential health services. Offering therapy seven days a week, the center’s new state-of-the-art rehabilitation gym features all the latest technology and equipment staffed by certified physical, occupational, and speech therapists specializing in orthopedic, geriatric, neurological, and cardiac care. Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation at Shrewsbury also includes extensive comfort amenities such as extensive entertainment and activity programs, flat screen televisions in every room, a gift shop, family lounges on every floor, and multiple dining rooms with restaurant-style menus.

Also among the many features is a dedicated unit for orthopedic patients. Specializing in post-surgical care for total knee replacements, hip replacements and fractures, the orthopedic unit includes 14 private rooms, its own dining room, and a private family lounge.

“We recognize the special needs for orthopedic patients, who typically lead active lives that they are anxious to get back to,” says Jennifer McIntyre, director of Rehabilitation Services. “Through this new dedicated unit, orthopedic patients receive specialized services and amenities in a wonderful environment while they recover and prepare to get back to their lives.”

Located less than three miles from Meridian’s Riverview Medical Center, Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation at Shrewsbury also provides a seamless transition for patients needing additional care after a hospital stay. As part of Meridian Health, the center also benefits from the full continuum of services Meridian provides, including care from Meridian’s hospitals, any of the 1,500 Meridian-affiliated physicians and specialists, multiple outpatient centers, and ambulance and medical transportation through Alert Ambulance.

“Meridian Health is recognized as one of the ‘best places to work in New Jersey,’ and so at Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation, we enjoy a very low turnover rate for employees, with the majority of our staff here for over 10 years,” says Aber. “This provides a highly stable environment and allows our nurses, aides, and therapists to build long-term relationships with our residents and their families, which is beneficial for both residents and staff.”

In addition to its highly trained rehabilitation staff, Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation provides 24-hour care by registered nurses, licensed practice nurses, and certified nurses’ aides, dieticians, recreational therapy professionals, as well as specially trained social workers dedicated to assisting patients and their families in caregiver assistance and counseling, psychological and social counseling, financial need counseling.

“We appreciate how stressful and overwhelming it can be when an individual or family is facing the need for specialized health care services,” says Aber. “Our dedicated staff works to make a stay at our center as easy as possible, providing service, support and guidance to address the many needs and issues they may be facing. Our multidisciplinary team works together in developing individualized care plans for each patient designed to ensure they live an active and enjoyable life.”

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