Staff Report
Cottage Health plans to move its Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital (CRH) to the Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital campus on South Patterson Avenue to create a new and expanded rehabilitation center.
CRH treats individuals with brain and spinal cord injury, stroke and stroke-related disorders, musculoskeletal dysfunction, chronic pain and other neurological and complex orthopedic conditions. Serving Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties for over 60 years, CRH is the Central Coast’s premier provider of medical rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, neuropsychology, recreational therapy services and specialized rehabilitation nursing.
The hospital is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for its Brain Injury Specialty, Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation, and Stroke Specialty programs.
“Our goal is to create an outstanding new CRH to serve our community into the future,” said Arie Dejong, vice president of Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, CRH & Therapy Services. “Our patient-centered rehabilitation hospital will continue to provide the best clinical services and amenities to include inpatient and outpatient services and a new aquatic center. There will be more space to bring in future technologies and programs. Final design work, approvals and construction will take approximately four years, with a target move in by the end of 2023.”
The new location will accommodate 30 patients in all private inpatient rooms. Next to the inpatient unit will be two separate gym spaces and outdoor patios. Enhancements will feature built-in patient lifts and ancillary services such as imaging, lab, pharmacy and dietary to offer patient room service.
CRH’s outpatient services will be relocated in a larger space directly adjacent to the existing outpatient therapy at GVCH to create a contiguous therapy space with greater capacity. A new, state-of-the-art aquatic center will offer therapy programs.
“Moving to the Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital campus will offer CRH additional clinical services onsite to support patient needs, such as the emergency medicine, imaging, pharmacy, wound care and surgical services,” said Dr. Sharon Basham, medical director of Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital. “Also, the restorative garden, patios and open spaces around the campus will provide an improved healing environment.”
Philanthropic support will be an important element of the new CRH project. Fundraising plans include opportunities to recognize and honor leading donors whose contributions advance Cottage’s rehabilitation capabilities.
Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital will continue to provide its current patient care programs, including its 24-hour emergency department, surgical services, Center for Orthopedics, and Ridley-Tree Center for Wound Management.
