Methodist Olive Branch Opens Outpatient Rehab Facility With Community Gratitude

Methodist Olive Branch Hospital celebrated the grand opening of its new Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility with the help from Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Associates, community leaders and local businesses.

A steady increase in patient volume and patient demand enabled MOBH to expand this service line to better serve patients and the community.

The facility, which allows the department to expand beyond the second floor of the hospital building and into a detached building on the campus, will accommodate more patients, more equipment and more therapies.

Whether it’s a patient who has trouble with balance or walking after a stroke, difficulty in swallowing after surgery or even sports injuries—there’s a dedicated team to help patients get back to their usual day-to-day.

Director of Rehab for MOBH Mandy Simpson said the new facility offers more space and capabilities to help patients on their road to recovery.

“We have equipment that we always wanted and needed, but we just had to make do with the space limitations that we had,” she said.

New additions such as the shuttle rebuilder, elliptical, upright bike and a corner stair system are welcomed editions the department simply didn’t have the space for in their previous area, Simpson said. This equipment is expected to give patients more targeted therapy options and a better overall rehabilitation experience.

“The general rule of thumb that we like to play with is for every one day that you're in bed, it takes three days of intense rehab to try to get you back to where you were to that baseline,” Simpson said while discussing how each patient’s path to recovery is unique.

Members from the Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce and other local leaders from the community were on hand to help celebrate the exciting expansion and new capabilities described by Simpson.

Olive Branch Mayor Ken Adams was in attendance and expressed his gratitude for MLH continuing to find new ways to serve the community.

“Obviously, Olive Branch loves Methodist Hospital—we absolutely do,” Mayor Adams said while addressing the crowd. “Matter of fact, we’re doing a stackable collage right now with a local artist and its [themed] Past, Present and Future and the hospital has a prominent place really between present and future because I think you’ll continue to grow,” he said.

Mayor Adams ended his remarks reinforcing the community’s excitement not just about the hospital but for the new facility being open and available to the community.

MLH leadership echoed the mayor’s remarks and expressed appreciation for such a supportive community.

President of MOBH David Baytos is overseeing the launch of this new facility in one of his final projects before retiring at the end of the month after a nearly 50-year career in the healthcare industry. He said he’s already seeing proof of community support in this new outpatient rehab facility.

“We’re a little over two months into our new facility. I can tell you, when you talk about growth potential, our outpatient rehab services are up about 50%,” Baytos said. “We knew the demand was there, so we’re very happy that we are here where we are today.”

A lot of that growth is in thanks to the therapists who provide such specialized care to patients.

“It's very patient-centered care, so every patient—rehab wise—has a little bit different challenge,” Baytos said. “A therapist, with what's available to them as far as their experience and resources out there, they develop a plan that will not only meet, but exceed that patient's needs, both clinically from quality standpoint, and from a recovery standpoint,” Baytos said.

Chief Financial Officer and recently named Interim President of MOBH Kris Sanders said seeing the support and growth of this facility is no surprise. There’s been a steady and healthy demand specifically for MLH facilities in this area, allowing for expansion of various service lines.

“Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare heard from the Northwest Mississippi community 30 years ago that they wanted a Methodist facility here. And so, we're just answering what the community says, what they need,” Sanders said.

No matter what services are expanded, the community shows up consistently, opting for the expertise and quality services provided at MLH facilities.

“Every time that we build something, every time that we do something, whether it's adding to the hospital or adding a medical office building, we always see the volume. We always see the community support us. No matter what we do here, the community always supports us,” Sanders said.

The new Methodist Olive Branch Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility is located at 4240 Bethel Road on the MOBH campus in Suite 102.