By Bruce Frankel

A recent addition to Kernersville’s expanding modern medical facilities is the state-of-the-art Summerstone Health & Rehabilitation Center. They provide services from short-term rehabilitation therapy to specialized nursing care designed to focus on the overall needs of each patient.

Located across the street from the Kernersville Hospital and next door to the Kernersville VA Health Care Center, Summerstone Health is easily accessible for patients, family, and friends from anywhere in the Triad.

This large 76,000 square-foot facility can accommodate up to 100 inpatients with private and semi-private ensuites, and all with private baths. But what visitors first notice when they enter this rehabilitation center is the clean, open, and fresh environment that is welcoming and indicative of the positive experience the facility offers.

Summerstone Health & Rehabilitation Center focuses upon assisting patients to regain their prior level of function following an illness or injury. This is done using state-of-the-art therapy equipment and an interdisciplinary team consisting of physicians, registered nurses as well as physical, occupational, speech therapists, and social workers. Collectively, this team works with patients and their families to determine the best course of a comprehensive treatment for a safe transition to their prior living setting.

Most patients are referred directly from hospitals or assisted living facilities throughout the Triad area. To ensure assistance can be provided as soon as possible, Summerstone Health accommodates admissions 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Although this is a new facility, Summerstone Health is part of the 125-year-old Liberty Healthcare company with locations across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia; giving it the experience and resources it needs to be a top-rate operation.

As part of Liberty’s complete senior care continuum, Summerstone Health can offer inpatient short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and outpatient services with access to assisted living and dementia care. In addition, hospice and respite care can also be offered within the company’s wide range of exceptional services. The continuum extends beyond the walls of their skilled nursing facilities and to the company’s home health, pharmacy, and medical equipment branches to meet the needs of patients following discharge.

Even though the facility is equipped to handle every diagnosis, there are specific programs, modalities, and equipment to address neurological, cardiopulmonary, and orthopedic diagnosis on an inpatient and outpatient basis.

The heart of Summerstone is the 6,000 square-foot rehabilitation gym that features state-of-the-art equipment to assist patients with their recovery from surgery, illness, or injury. Adjacent to the gym is a rehabilitation garden that provides an opportunity for patients to train on different terrain as well as a place of quiet reflection following their therapy sessions.

The dedicated rehabilitation gym offers patients’ use of several pieces of specialized therapy equipment geared toward maximizing functional status. Some examples of the rehabilitation equipment include: NeuroGym Bungee Mobility Trainer to help with functional balance and fall prevention strategies, NeuroGym Sit to Stand Trainer to improve sit to stand independence, SciFit Pro 2 to improve upper extremity and lower extremity strength as well as functional endurance and a Car Transfer Simulator to practice car transfer safety.

Certified therapists are also on hand to offer Electrical Stimulation Therapy for muscle re-education and Diathermy and Ultrasound for pain management and inflammation issues.

To help balance some relief from the daily challenges rehabilitation therapy can exert, Summerstone creates an atmosphere for quality patient comfort and emotional well-being.

During their stay, patients and their guests can enjoy spacious living rooms with fireplaces, well-appointed dining rooms and outdoor areas for visits and relaxation. In-room dining is provided as well as flat screen televisions with complimentary cable are available in short-term rooms. For entertainment, Summerstone offers a movie theater, the Summer PERK coffee bar, and The Sports Den for relaxation. A variety of salon services are also offered at Summerstone, including hair wash, set or cuts, coloring, permanents, or manicure and pedicures.

Of course, the most significant element of any successful rehabilitation experience is the quality and professionalism of the staff. Each and every day, the collective staff goal is to improve the quality of life for patients by delivering an exceptional patient and customer service experience.

The emphasis of maintaining a quality staff is evident when you meet Jessica McCollum, the Administrator for Summerstone Health. She has been an administrator for Liberty Healthcare facilities since 2011 and is a proud High Point University alumna.

Ms. McCullum’s appreciation and passion for the industry began at an early age. “I kind of grew up in the industry,” she commented, “my mom had a daycare center in the basement of a nursing home in Lexington, so I was able to see the importance and impact of quality care from the beginning.”

Summerstone Health’s dedicated and experienced staff focuses on healthy interactions among staff and patients. You immediately sense an overall genuine concern for everyone’s well-being when you speak with them.

As Charles Mitchell, Mayor of Walnut Cove and a recent patient stated, “Summerstone’s rehab people are wonderful! Just today I referred Summerstone to someone for rehab.”

And as current patient Luis Torres-Segar enthusiastically explained, “I don’t like it here…I love it here!”

To further highlight this emphasis, Summerstone promotes an employee rewards program called ‘Catch a Liberty Star’ where patients and other staff can regularly submit comment cards in a nomination box. The ‘stars’ are then acknowledged during staff meetings and are accumulated by staff for recognition and incentive awards.

But ultimately, everyone works towards the same goal summed up by Ms. McCollum. “I like making a difference in patients’ lives, and what I love most is seeing them go home,” she added with a proud smile.

Anyone interested in learning more about Summerstone Health & Rehabilitation Center is encouraged to stop by for a visit at 485 Veterans Way in Kernersville. Call 336.515.3000 or visit their website at LibertyHealthcareandRehab.com/Summerstone.