Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - West Orange

10/15/2025

Charles Schembri, 42, a devoted husband and father of four from Long Island, New York, was traveling for business in Austin, Texas, when a scooter accident left him near death. Charles sustained a traumatic brain injury as well as lung, kidney and liver failure. He was unable to walk, communicate or care for himself. After three months in a Texas hospital, Charles stabilized and was able to be flown back to the east coast but still had a long recovery road ahead. For that, he chose Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - West Orange where he relearned how to walk, talk and take care of his daily personal needs so he could return home.

Read more about Charles’ amazing recovery: https://bit.ly/4oju881

10/15/2025

When a patient is admitted to one of our specialty hospitals, a case manager is present to help coordinate care while guiding families and caregivers throughout the recovery journey. Serving as a central point of communication, case managers support patients as they transition to the next level of care or when preparing to discharge.

10/13/2025

After a stroke left 69-year-old Joseph McNeill, Jr., unable to walk or care for himself, he turned to Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Saddle Brook to regain his independence. He progressed from not being about to get out of his bed without a mechanical lift to walking with a rolling walker. Joseph also learned how to speak more clearly and compensate for memory deficits caused by the stroke. Joseph is ready to get back to life at home and eager to return to church.

Read more about Joseph’s stroke recovery:
https://bit.ly/470036v

10/13/2025

One of the case manager’s key responsibilities is looking around corners—determining a patient’s medical and social service needs after they leave the hospital. Our case managers coordinate meetings with patients, their families and the clinical team, explaining the various levels of care and verbally reviewing what to expect. Additionally, case managers can assist with ordering medical equipment that the patient needs for their return home.

10/02/2025

Steven Ryan, a home improvement business owner from Old Bridge, drove himself to the hospital after he started feeling off during a quick trip to Home Depot. He never thought that short trip would turn into a three-month hospital stay. Steven had a heart attack that required open heart surgery to repair the damage. He’s now back on his feet after a stay at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - West Orange. There, the care team helped him regain strength, independence and hope. He is glad to be at home with his wife and his dog and is gaining more strength and function as an outpatient at Kessler Rehabilitation Center.

Read more about Steven’s recovery: https://bit.ly/4mEnJTD

10/01/2025

It’s National Physical Therapy Month. Our theme throughout October is, “Your future is better with PT!” We will highlight how physical therapy can lead to a better, stronger tomorrow.

Our physical therapists are here to guide patients through every step of recovery, from hospital to home. For our patients, that means helping them return to the moments that matter. For our physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, it means making a difference and helping people move forward.

Join us throughout the month as we highlight the power of physical therapy.

09/30/2025

For patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and their families, discharging from the hospital is a critical period. The process can be emotional and overwhelming for some with lots of information to absorb.

The goal of the discharge process is to help patients and families navigate the medical, functional and psychosocial aspects of life after SCI. Patients are provided individualized training sessions, home exercise programs, education on bowel/bladder management and daily care materials. Physiatrists – medical doctors who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) – welcome the support of family and friends as part of a compassionate transition.

Among these resources is the Community, Healing, Education and Training (CHET). It provides straightforward education guides about SCI and other conditions and what to expect throughout a patient’s recovery journey: https://chetcommunity.com/recoveryGuideDetails/EQEXAYWiliIR4sfxw20La

09/27/2025

Michael Scott has a lot of faith in physical therapists. And he has a lot of faith in himself. When a motorcycle crash paralyzed his legs, it didn’t take long for the 29-year-old to move from acceptance to adapting to and overcoming his spinal cord injury. A physician-led team of physical, occupational and recreational therapists from HonorHealth Rehabilitation Hospital were there to help, with innovative technology and helping him develop strategies for everyday tasks like dressing himself.

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

Lying in his hospital bed moments after a doctor gave him some of the worst news of his life, Michael Scott found solace.

09/26/2025

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) demand highly specialized care. At Select Medical specialty hospitals, an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, therapists, and dietitians and others collaborate to address the complex challenges patients’ face – from blood pressure fluctuations and pain, to muscle loss, pressure sores and digestive issues that can lead to malnutrition.

“Good nutrition plays a supportive role in recovery,” said Camilla Johnson, clinical dietitian, Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation. She supports and educates patients with SCI during their rehabilitation. “In the hospital, good nutrition reduces the length of stay and … it enhances overall outcomes,” she said.

Here are four ways our dietitians contribute to patient care to promote healing and prevent complications.

09/25/2025

Laz Reeder checked into a hospital for hernia surgery, but aspirated during anesthesia and went into respiratory failure. The 35-year-old Florida man needed two life support machines to survive. A month later when Laz had stabilized, his wife Sierra turned to the continuum of care at Select Specialty Hospital - Pensacola and Select Medical Rehabilitation - Pensacola to continue his recovery and rehabilitation. Laz had mountains of motivation waiting for him at home: his baby daughter, Nyla.

Read his full story: https://bit.ly/3IEJZPj

09/25/2025

Life changes with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Nurses play an important role in supporting patients with an SCI and their loved ones as they navigate their recovery journey.

As instrumental players on our physician-led multidisciplinary care team, nurses direct care and advocate for their patients’ physical and emotional needs as they recover and prepare to return home after rehabilitation.

Our Registered Nurses (RNs) provide 24-hour hands-on care, tending to a range of needs from administering medications to monitoring patients’ bowel and bladder functions to ensuring patients change position frequently to avoid pressure wounds. Nurses also reinforce therapy, helping patients put into practice exercises to strengthen deconditioned muscles and new ways of dressing and grooming.

Additionally, nurses offer emotional support to their patients with an SCI – problem-solving with them as they work through challenges. In preparation for discharge, nurses also ensure patients and their loved ones are aware of community resources to support their independence and well-being.

09/24/2025

Pain is a significant problem for patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and can come in many forms. Working closely with the patient’s physician and therapy team, the pharmacist will develop a comprehensive pain management plan that helps mitigate and manage pain throughout the patient's journey.

Pharmacists regularly review medications to help these patients manage their pain, calibrating dosage and mitigating side effects. Here are the types of pain experienced by patients with an SCI.

09/23/2025

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: https://bit.ly/3KiGxKG

Critical Illness Recovery Hospitals DAISY Winners
Select Specialty Hospital – Camp Hill: Bhawana Baskota
Select Specialty Hospital – Columbus: Caroline Weber
Select Specialty Hospital – Ann Arbor: Cheryl Moran
Regency Hospital – Cleveland West: Ivana Gacic
Select Specialty Hospital – Wheeling: Jill Blake
Select Specialty Hospital – Belhaven: Kallie Law
Select Specialty Hospital – Fort Myers: Marsha Reid
Select Specialty Hospital – Grosse Pointe: Nicole Riley
Select Specialty Hospital – Downriver: Sanar Hermiz
Select Specialty Hospital – Springfield: Thomas Klouse

Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals DAISY Winners
Banner Rehabilitation Hospital West: Cecille “Joy” Alima
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Chester: Divina Macagba
California Rehabilitation Institute: Fely Ann Vilk
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - West Orange: Izabela Skorupski
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - West Orange: Peyton Taylor

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

DAISY Foundation

We’re pleased to announce the DAISY regional award winners for the second quarter of 2025. These nurses have earned praise for their extraordinary care from patients, families and colleagues. Here’s what makes them special:

06/23/2025

Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and Kessler Rehabilitation Center teamed up to present on the continuum of care for cancer patients at the Medically Complex Conference in West Orange.

It was wonderful representation and collaboration from our teams.

07/11/2024

In June, Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation – West Orange, in collaboration with the New York Blood Center, hosted a successful blood drive. Exceeding their goal of 27 pints, the team collected a remarkable 41 pints, which will help save 123 lives. Special thanks to Michelle O'Keefe for supporting this effort and Annie Gonzalez, Anna Paolino, Mark Brinn and Alina Hedaya for organizing and promoting the drive.

Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation is ranked as one of the top hospitals for rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report. Learn more at https://www.kessler-rehab.com/.

05/06/2024

Registered Nurses (RNs) are the backbone of health care delivery, according to the American Nurses Association.

“Nursing integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alleviation of suffering through compassionate presence.” (ANA (2021). Nursing:Scope and Standards of Practice, Fourth Edition, p.1)

Throughout Nurses Week, we’ll be highlighting our nursing team across the Select Medical network of hospitals. To learn more, visit: https://www.selectmedical.com/about-us/

04/16/2024

Attention New Jersey-New York metro area medical professionals – just one week left to register for Excellence in Neurotrauma Rehabilitation: 75 Years and Counting.

This free full-day seminar will explore advancements in technology and care delivery for survivors of brain injury and spinal cord injury in the post-acute setting. An expert panel including Kessler’s director of spinal cord injury services and Kessler Foundation’s director of neuropsychology and neuroscience research will lead individual sessions. Lunch will be provided and continuing education credits are available to qualifying participants.

To learn more and register, visit: https://bit.ly/4aThvuq

03/13/2024

Barbara Weeks, a 76-year-old New Jersey native, conquered the aftermath of a stroke with determination and the guidance of therapists at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Chester. From struggling to sit up to mastering the art of walking with a walker, Barbara's story of resilience and progress is inspiration for anyone recovering from a stroke.

Read about Barbara’s experiences: https://bit.ly/3SXOPbF.

03/13/2024

Nutrition plays a vital role in delivering quality patient care. Our registered dietitians are the food and nourishment experts of our interdisciplinary teams. Dietitians use their clinical expertise to develop and implement personalized nutrition plans that help each patient maintain the energy they need to continue healing.

We appreciate our registered dietitians for their important role in achieving successful patient outcomes through dietary education and individualized nutrition.

03/11/2024

Bonnie Weil, 43, has always been a bright light to her community and family. She was not going to let anything dim that light – not even a brain injury. When she arrived at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation – Marlton, Bonnie faced physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. With characteristic grit and the dedicated support of her husband, Bonnie made tremendous progress.

Read more of Bonnie’s inspirational story: https://bit.ly/3TiRrCu.

03/08/2024

The brain has a remarkable ability to heal itself after injury. In response to aging, trauma or disease, the structure of and connections in our brain are designed to adapt and change over a lifetime. This is called neuroplasticity.

There is a reason why our physical, occupational and speech therapists ask patients to repeat the same task. Repetition helps build the muscles and endurance needed to walk or talk as well as helping the brain recreate or restore the neural connections that make walking and talking a “no-brainer.” Every repetition of a word, movement, activity—even emotion—builds and strengthens the mental connections making it easier to accomplish everyday tasks.

Learn how our therapists put neuroplasticity into practice with those who have a brain injury: https://bit.ly/49Kyyhh

03/08/2024

Meet Ramon Terrero, a forklift operator, who faced a life-altering stroke. Ramon embraced intensive rehabilitation at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation – Marlton with a positive attitude. His hard work led to remarkable progress, from needing assistance to regaining mobility and independence.

Read more about Ramon's journey: https://bit.ly/3T3Qv3A.

03/07/2024

Congratulations, Dr. Adler!

03/06/2024

30-year-old Juron Brown sustained a traumatic brain injury after a horrible fall. Left with the inability to walk or complete daily tasks on his own, he came to Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation – Marlton to begin his journey back to independence.

Read more of Juron’s story: https://bit.ly/3SUHF86.