Select Specialty Hospital - Milwaukee - West Allis

07/04/2025

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

06/19/2025

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

06/18/2025

In recognition of CNA Week, we asked our nursing assistants and patient care technicians, “Why did you choose a nursing career?”

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

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. 🌟

06/04/2025

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.

05/28/2025

Butler, Pennsylvania resident Peggy Downey, 56, managed her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by adjusting her activity level based on how she was feeling. However, one weekend Peggy found herself struggling to catch her breath and frequently dropping things. She also noticed that her right foot was dragging when she walked, knocking her off balance. It was the start of a health journey that took her from a medically induced coma to Select Specialty Hospital - McKeesport and then to Select Medical Rehabilitation - Pensacola for recovery.

Read her story: https://bit.ly/4mArhHV

05/26/2025

This Memorial Day, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving and protecting our country.

05/21/2025

Clark Crist once helped MLB players like Kenny Lofton (Cleveland Guardians), Mike Leake (Seattle Mariners) and Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals) sign their contracts. Then suddenly the former player, manager and Major League scout needed help himself. He suffered a massive stroke, which affected his ability to walk, feed and dress himself.

In addition to friends and former teammates like Terry Francona (The University of Arizona, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox), Barry Larkin (Cincinnati Reds) and Luis Gonzalez (Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros), Clark needed a coach. Instead he found a team. The therapists at HonorHealth Rehabilitation Hospital helped Clark come home again.

Read Clark's story: https://bit.ly/4jeZzNZ

To learn more about Select Medical’s network of hospitals, visit: https://www.selectmedical.com/about-us/

05/20/2025

Finding specialized care for your loved one with medically complex needs can be difficult, even overwhelming. At our critical illness recovery hospitals, we focus on five recovery areas, known as the Five Whys, which are vital to each patient’s journey toward independence.

These skills may seem simple but for those recovering from catastrophic illness or injury, they often need to relearn them. Our multidisciplinary team consists of pulmonologists (doctors who specialize in treating respiratory illnesses), respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, pharmacists, dietitians and nurses.

Each of the Five Whys is central to patient recovery, helping to identify opportunities for improvement in order to accelerate the ability to go home.

05/18/2025

Many of our patients struggle to speak, swallow or think clearly when they transition to our care. They’re recovering from injury or illness and want to talk with a loved one, eat their favorite food and manage their daily activities.

Certified speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play an important role in making that happen. As part of a multi-disciplinary care team, SLPs diagnose communication and swallowing conditions and create individualized plans to address them.

For some patients, that may mean exercises to strengthen their tongue, lips and throat. For others, it might be activities to improve memory and problem solving—all with the goal of getting them back to their lives.

05/16/2025

We partner with top-tier, innovative health care systems nationwide. Select Medical’s network of hospitals is devoted to helping patients recover, achieve successful outcomes and regain their quality of life.

05/15/2025

Caleb Utley, a 34-year-old restaurant server, enjoyed an active life with his fiancé and their two dogs. But a catastrophic vehicle accident changed everything. The incident left him with multiple traumatic wounds including a brain injury. He faced a long road to recovery. His first stop after the ICU was Select Specialty Hospital - Dallas Plano, a critical illness recovery hospital, where he continued to heal from his injuries. After meeting his goals, he transferred to Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Frisco, to regain his mobility, communication skills and other abilities to return to the life he loved.

Read more about Caleb’s amazing recovery: https://bit.ly/4mhHmSF

To learn more about Select Medical’s network of hospitals, visit: https://www.selectmedical.com/about-us/

04/03/2025

When Milwaukee native and retiree Telitha Watts battled pneumonia and COVID-19, it placed additional strain on her body as she was already managing chronic lung disease. Doctors created an opening in Telitha’s windpipe—called a tracheostomy—and connected her to a ventilator to take over the work of her lungs while they treated her with medication. After two and a half weeks, Telitha stabilized and was ready to focus on recovery. For that, her family chose Select Specialty Hospital – Milwaukee – West Allis.

Read her story: https://bit.ly/3FUyaD5

10/31/2024

Mae and Wes Kuehl’s lives changed dramatically when Mae was diagnosed with an ovarian mass and her heart stopped during surgery. Turns out, Mae, of Greenwood, Wisconsin, also had severe cardiac stenosis, followed by mini-strokes. When Mae’s health was stabilized, she was too weak to walk, couldn’t eat and struggled to think clearly. She and Wes turned to Select Specialty Hospital – Milwaukee West Allis, to help her regain strength, orientation and independence to get back home.

Read Mae's story here: https://bit.ly/3UxnTRL

10/18/2024

Julie Shanahan is no stranger to cardiac surgery; the 41-year-old from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, was born with congenital heart defects and underwent her first open heart surgery at age 9. But when Julie encountered life-threatening complications following her most recent heart surgery and spent five weeks in the hospital, she needed help to get back to breathing on her own and regaining strength to care for herself. A physician-led, interdisciplinary team at Select Specialty Hospital – West Allis, a critical illness recovery hospital, provided that care.

Read Julie's story here: https://bit.ly/3YsLxB9

05/16/2024

Mary Hillman, 69, was rushed to the hospital after being discovered in a confused and disheveled state by her brother. Doctors discovered that Mary had Legionnaires' disease, a serious lung infection. After 30 days in the ICU, Mary emerged unable to eat, breathe or walk on her own. She was transferred to Select Specialty Hospital - West Allis where an interdisciplinary team implemented a treatment plan that would help Mary return to independence and home to her four cats.

Read Mary's story here: https://www.selectspecialtyhospitals.com/locations-and-tours/wi/west-allis/milwaukee-west-allis/page-data/location-detail-tabs/success-stories/mary-hillman/

03/05/2024

If you or a loved one experienced a brain injury, intense therapy can play a vital role in recovery and help get you back to an independent lifestyle.

Meet some of our brain injury patients who not only survived, but thrived.

To learn more about Select Medical’s network of hospitals, visit: https://www.selectmedical.com/about-us/

03/01/2024

March is Brain Injury Awareness month. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, someone in the United States sustains a brain injury every nine seconds. A brain injury can affect how a person thinks, acts and feels.

Brain injuries can result from an outside force to the head, known as a traumatic brain injury (TBI), or an internal cause – known as a non-traumatic brain injury (NTBI).

Learn more about the difference between a TBI and NTBI below, and check back throughout the month as we spotlight brain injury and how we help people recover.

02/05/2024

The determination and hard work exhibited by patients eager to return home after injury or illness is an inspirational experience.
Take it from our colleagues as they explain why working with patients is a privilege.

02/01/2024

February marks American Heart Month, a time to raise more awareness for heart health and cardiovascular diseases.

Select Medical admits a range of cardiac rehabilitation patients recovering from a variety of conditions, including heart failure, cardiomyopathy (heart issues making it hard to pump blood) and cardiac surgery, including heart transplants. Our interdisciplinary teams – including physicians, nurses and therapists – develop individualized treatment plans focused on post-surgical healing, dietary and medication education and restoring strength and endurance. The goal is to avoid cardiac complications and provide patients with the skills, strategies and techniques needed for independent and heart-healthy lives.

02/01/2024

Every patient’s journey toward independence is a unique experience. We are proud to have been a part of yours.

During National Patient Recognition Week, we thank all our patients for entrusting us with their care.

01/15/2024

12/31/2023

New Years is a time to set and reach for new goals. We hope you attain all you aspire to this year.

Happy holidays from Select Medical.

12/06/2023

Cold and flu season is here.

A simple wash goes a long way.

Let’s keep our hands clean and help ensure a healthy community.