Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Saddle Brook

08/20/2025

We’re excited to announce that Newsweek ranked Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (West Orange, Saddle Brook & Chester) as the #2 rehabilitation hospital in the Northeast Region on its 2025 list of “America's Best Physical Rehab Centers.”

It’s a privilege to care for and help patients regain their quality of life through rehabilitation. We applaud our outstanding patient care teams who inspire hope through their exceptional care.

To learn more, click here: https://bit.ly/3Vc1clO

08/12/2025

A severe motorcycle accident in Costa Rica left 33-year-old Army specialist Codey Vargas with a traumatic brain injury rendering him unable to care for himself, walk or speak. Doctors performed multiple lifesaving procedures and surgeries and put Codey into a medically induced coma to help him heal. His recovery would be arduous given his multiple traumatic injuries and impaired cognitive function. Codey arrived at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - West Orange hoping to strengthen his mind and body and regain as much independence as possible. He did that over the course of the next year.

Read his inspiring story here: https://bit.ly/40ZvWKl

08/01/2025

After a triple bypass and complex spinal surgeries, Robert Ferrara couldn’t control his legs, had trouble balancing and needed help getting out of bed. He arrived at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Marlton with one goal: to walk back into his home. Through hard work and support from his care team and family, Robert is able to walk up to 150 feet with a rolling walker and continues to improve.

Read more about Robert’s spinal cord injury recovery:
https://bit.ly/4lZaBJw

07/29/2025

We are honored to be ranked #4 among all inpatient rehabilitation hospitals* in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 2025-26. This marks the 33rd consecutive year that our hospital has been recognized. At Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, we are committed to providing an exceptional patient care experience that promotes healing and recovery.

To learn more, click here https://bit.ly/3IRKKo0



*West Orange, Saddle Brook and Chester locations

07/04/2025

We wish you and your family a safe and happy Fourth of July.

06/25/2025

After contracting bacterial meningitis and having a stroke, James Cuomo had a 1% chance of survival. He beat the odds, but couldn’t sit, stand or walk and struggled to tolerate even being upright. When he was medically stable, he went to Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Chester to regain physical and cognitive skills. With the help of his therapy team, he’s now walking, navigating stairs and preparing to return to the life he built with his family.

Read how James’ regained skills for independence: https://bit.ly/4kQTOHT

06/23/2025

Kenneth Young, a 76-year-old retired tool and die maker from River Vale, New Jersey, spent years managing complications stemming from a car accident where he injured his right leg and shattered his pelvis in the 1970s. Over the years, he had a knee replacement, a revision to that surgery, a hip replacement, multiple fractures in his femur and recurrent infections. Kenneth finally decided to undergo a right hip disarticulation amputation, which removes the entire leg, including the hip joint. He is slowly learning how to walk again thanks to the dedicated team at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Saddle Brook.

Read more about Kenneth’s pre- and post-orthotic rehabilitation:
https://bit.ly/4k2WiBA

06/20/2025

CNA Week may have ended Wednesday but our nursing assistants and patient care technicians are still excited to share their passion.

“[I chose nursing] due to my strong desire to help people during difficult times. I want to make a real difference in people’s lives.” - Zahnieyrah Gooden, N.A.

“My passion is to help people and provide compassionate care.” - Verna Fields, N.A.

“I’m passionate about helping others and wanted a career where I could make a real difference in people’s lives every day.” - Chloe Giannone, N.A.

Left to Right: Zahnieyrah Gooden, N.A.; John D. Kim, R.N.; Verna Fields, N.A.; Jared Arteaga, R.N.; Mary Jane Mallari, R.N.; Ashley Fajardo, R.N.; Maria Cleto, R.N.; Yvonne Grant, N.A.; Colita Mathews-Byrd, unit secretary; Taisha Castro, N.A.; Tiffany Coronado, R.N.

Bottom left to right: Chloe Gannone, N.A.; Paul Reyes, R.N.

To join our nursing team, please visit our current job openings: https://bit.ly/4lcHhOP

06/19/2025

Today, we acknowledge the importance of Juneteenth, which commemorates the abolition of slavery.

06/12/2025

Our nursing assistants and patient care technicians champion the recovery of every patient from admission to discharge. An integral part of the nursing team, they obtain vital signs, assist patients with daily care and support their physical and emotional needs.

Join us as we celebrate these compassionate health care professionals. 🌟

06/10/2025

We’re pleased to announce the DAISY regional award winners for our critical illness recovery hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. Recognized by patients, colleagues and families for the extraordinary care they provide, these nurses are fully invested in their patients’ recoveries.

Critical Illness Recovery Hospitals DAISY Winners:
Regency Hospital – Cleveland East: Josie Veon
Regency Hospital – Minneapolis: Dylan Dennhardt
Select Specialty Hospital – Battle Creek: Daniel Cortright
Select Specialty Hospital – Cleveland Fairhill: Julie Buck
Select Specialty Hospital – Downriver: Angela Alvarez
Select Specialty Hospital – Flint: William Bowling
Select Specialty Hospital – Fort Myers: Max Reichbart
Select Specialty Hospital – Nashville West: Kellen “Chad” Byers
Select Specialty Hospital – Nashville West: Melissa McCollum
Select Specialty Hospital – Tucson Northwest: Electra Johnson

Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals DAISY Winners:
Banner Rehabilitation Hospital Phoenix - Catalina Kirk
California Rehabilitation Institute: Alisha Totty
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Chester: Stephanie Gonzales
Ochsner Rehabilitation Hospital: Cassie Wilson
Ochsner Rehabilitation Hospital: Fran St. Pierre

Learn more about exciting employment opportunities with Select Medical by viewing our openings here: https://bit.ly/4jr7zf5

DAISY Foundation

Our mission is to provide an exceptional patient care experience that promotes healing and recovery in a compassionate environment. This mission is made possible by our employees. Patients, family members, or colleagues can easily commend someone through our recognition programs, which are accessibl...

06/04/2025

You may have heard the words “aphasia” and “dysphagia” when supporting a loved one’s health journey and wondered what they mean and how they differ.

June is National Aphasia Awareness Month—a fitting time to highlight this communication disorder and contrast it with dysphagia, another disorder patients may face after injury or illness.

Aphasia affects a person’s ability to speak, read or write—although not necessarily their thinking. After a stroke or brain injury that damages the language centers in the brain, a patient may have trouble finding the right words, understanding what others say or comprehending text.

Dysphagia is the difficulty in swallowing, and can occur as a symptom of many different conditions, including brain and muscle disorders.