Select Specialty Hospital - York

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.

09/27/2025

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.

09/22/2025

Patients living with spinal cord injury (SCI) can experience sensory challenges that inhibit mobility and create fall risks. Fall prevention education is a focus throughout the SCI rehabilitation journey by Select Medical specialty hospital teams, including physical therapists.

Physical therapists help educate individuals with SCI about fall risk by integrating safe mobility strategies early into their care plan. For instance, the introduction of any new equipment, such as a bed or wheelchair, increases the risk for falls. Fall prevention is also underscored in a comprehensive rehabilitation plan of care across disciplines to incorporate equipment that builds muscle strength, promotes balance and improves mobility.

Deep commitment and collaboration across the interdisciplinary team of rehabilitation specialists is essential to ensuring the safe discharge of our patients with an SCI.

09/18/2025

We asked our clinicians to talk about the importance of the environmental services team, and they did not disappoint.

09/17/2025

Diagnosed with congestive heart failure at age 32, Robert Sauerwein kept surgery at bay for almost two decades by managing his condition with medication. That changed when he passed out while dining at a restaurant. Emergency services rushed Robert to the hospital. Several interventions, surgeries and device placements followed.

After 11 weeks, Robert stabilized and was ready to focus on the next step—strengthening his lungs to free himself from the ventilator and returning to eating and drinking. For that, he chose Select Specialty Hospital - Harrisburg for critical illness recovery. After success there, he continued building strength at Penn State Health Rehabilitation Hospital before returning home.

Read his story: https://bit.ly/4gzK9nW

09/17/2025

A devastating rollover car accident left 19-year-old Nathan Beck with a spinal cord injury. Two spinal fusion surgeries were necessary to prevent any further damage to his spinal cord. Once he was stable, Nathan transferred to Select Specialty Hospital - St. Louis. There, his care team would help him regain the strength to move on his own and care for himself again.

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

A devastating rollover car accident left Nathan Beck with a spinal cord injury. Two spinal fusion surgeries were necessary to prevent any further damage to his spinal cord. Once he was stable, Nathan transferred to Select Specialty Hospital – St. Louis. There, his care team would help him regain t...

09/16/2025

Our nurses continually refine their skills by caring for patients with a wide range of serious health conditions. We understand the complexity of our patients’ conditions and offer robust continuing education and training to ensure our nurses are ready and confident to provide the highest quality, outcomes-based care. New nurses benefit from a range of programs that combine mentorship with hands-on experience to develop their clinical expertise and critical thinking skills.

To learn more about our professional development opportunities, visit: https://careers.selectmedical.com/professional-development/education/hospital-education/

06/19/2025

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

06/17/2025

Country music singer Jimmy Charles made a surprise visit to Select Specialty Hospital - Camp Hill this past weekend to perform a solo concert for a special patient. Pete Sawyer has been living with ALS for more than 10 years and has been hospitalized for a month. When Jimmy heard that Pete, a longtime fan, was having a difficult time, he visited Pete ahead of a performance to play a few songs and lift his spirits. WPMT FOX43 ran a short segment about the story.

02/06/2025

Bill McCord was hooked to a ventilator for 156 days and doctors had little hope that he would recover. With the support of his family and strangers nationwide, Bill fought his way to consciousness and began a journey of recovery that would lead him to Select Specialty Hospital – York. There, an interdisciplinary team would use a comprehensive treatment plan to help Bill breathe, eat and speak again.

Read Bill's story here: https://bit.ly/3WPGQjv

03/15/2024

We’re pleased to announce the DAISY regional award winners who have earned praise from patients, colleagues and families. Honored for the extraordinary care they give patients, these nurses are fully invested in their patients’ recoveries. Here’s what makes them special:

Critical Illness Recovery Hospitals DAISY Winners

Angela Small - Select Specialty Hospital - Oakland
Angela was nominated for her compassion, patience and willingness to create a calm, peaceful environment. She goes above and beyond ensuring her patients feel comfortable and communicating every process and procedure they will go through.
“Angela is an amazing nurse… a prime example of everything a nurse should represent. She is kind, compassionate, shows empathy and is honest with you. She always knocked on my door and asked if she could come in. This may not seem like much, but for me it showed she respected me as a person and thought about me,” said a former patient.

Angelica “Gel” Knauer - Select Specialty Hospital - Knoxville
Gel was recognized by her colleagues for providing exceptional patient care. A fellow nurse said, “She is not only an extraordinary nurse but always goes the extra mile for her patients. I witnessed her making a birthday banner and card for a patient celebrating her birthday alone.” She gave the patient a gift to cheer her up. Gel’s compassion is outstanding, another colleague said, noting she had witnessed Gel sit beside a dying patient who was on comfort care (focused on pain relief and quality of life). “He had no family with him. She held his hand during his hardest time.”

Brandy Schulze - Select Specialty Hospital - York
Brandy was nominated for her ability to communicate with patients and colleagues. “She is what every nurse should be,” said a patient family member. “She knows us all by name, not just a room number. She listens to us regardless if it is a family story we want to share or concerns over care. She is personable and simply amazing to work with. Brandy is one of the very few nurses who understands neuro patients.” One patient family member noted that even when she is not your nurse that day, she still checks in to say hi. Another family member closed a nomination with, “Brandy, I don’t know if you will ever see this, but thank you…. I will never forget you.”

Crystal Wagner - Select Specialty Hospital - TriCities
Nominated for her compassion and going the extra mile, one of Crystal’s colleagues said, “We had a patient struggling with depression due to having a prolonged hospital stay. Crystal quickly recognized this patient’s need for extra attention and social interaction. She addressed this patient’s mental needs by spending extra time with the patient. Crystal also incorporated the patient into her work routine, allowing her to sit outside of her room while she completed her computer tasks. These simple acts boosted the patient’s mood and their demeanor improved significantly. Other staff took note of the positive impact of this and began to follow suit.

Jessica Allers - Select Specialty Hospital - Corewell Health Grand Rapids
Jessica was nominated by a patient’s daughter. Jessica provided excellent care despite a busy schedule and helped the daughter through a time where she “was anxious, confused and scared about what was happening to this vibrant, loving man.” The nominator added, “Jessica touched my life in a deeply personal way by talking to me as a person … it only took three minutes for her to build rapport with me and explain things that literally changed my life as we went forward.”

Kellen Chad Byers - Select Specialty Hospital - Nashville West
Chad was recognized by his patient for being incredibly thoughtful and reliable. “I was feeling lost and discouraged one day and Chad popped in to check on me. When he saw how I looked, he immediately took a seat next to me and gave me comfort and words of encouragement.” Chad’s nominator said that on multiple occasions Chad would check on her even though she wasn’t his assigned patient. Chad was also recognized for ensuring that the patient’s family was comfortable. “What a pleasure to encounter such a fine young man, especially as my nurse,” said his patient.

Theresa Reposa - Select Specialty Hospital - Northeast New Jersey
A colleague nominated Theresa for her outstanding compassion. Her nominator related a story about a long-time resident whose family was unable to visit during Christmas due to illness. Theresa “went out of her way and bought the patient a Christmas gift and spent time with him.” When the patient’s doctor saw him, he had been moved to tears, expressing how grateful he was for Terry’s actions.

Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals DAISY Winners

Jackie Lewellyn - Banner Rehabilitation Hospital - Phoenix
Jackie received three nominations, all of which mentioned her professionalism, compassion and caring attitude. One patient wrote: “She has gone beyond what’s asked of her just to make things a little better or easier. Her care made me feel more comfortable while staying here. She’s selfless in what she does and puts the care of her patients above all.” Another patient shared that Jackie was quick to take action when his blood pressure plummeted. “Jackie took control of the situation, got my IV and medications and made sure that I was okay. Her knowledge, care and compassion are commendable.”

Vrondria Billups - Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital - Beachwood
Vrondria was nominated by a physician who happened to overhear a conversation with a patient and her family. “The patient was depressed about her prognosis and her lack of progress. Vrondria listened to the patient, acknowledged her fears and provided a kind and compassionate response. She did not give false hope, but what she did give was empathy and encouragement, which is what I believe the patient and her family needed.” The physician continued, writing: “She is definitely the kind of person we need caring for our rehab patients, many of whom have had their lives changed forever.” Vrondria was complimented by her leaders and coworkers alike, who praised her skills, clinical judgment and ability to make even the most difficult day calm.”

Dominique Brockington - Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Marlton
Dominque was nominated for her passion for nursing, kindness and her commitment to both patient and family care. Her nominator was impressed by watching Dominique work effectively with multiple patients and other members of the care team. “It is wonderful to witness the many caring employees at Kessler—especially Dominque,” said the nominator. “She exemplifies sincere passion, a desire to exceed expectations and, most of all, the ability to put people at ease by providing comfort. She sets a high bar for patient and family care—a great example for her peers to aspire to.”

Jaclynn “Jackie” Nelson - SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital - Lake Saint Louis
Jackie was lauded for her kindness, caring nature and listening skills. “She will do anything to figure out what may be causing symptoms for patients,” her supervisor wrote. The patient who nominated Jackie said, “She filled the room with smiles and positivity,” and added, “She is truly concerned about you, just like a family member would be.” The patient stated that Jackie consistently went above and beyond to soothe her worries and make her time in rehab as comfortable as possible.