AdventHealth Dade City opens new unit to make rehabilitation and recovery easier for patients

AdventHealth Dade City has opened of a new 45-bed transitional care unit (TCU) to provide rehabilitation services for patients recovering from a surgery, acute illness or injury. This specially designed unit is the only one of its kind in Pasco County to provide physical, occupational and speech therapy, and offer in-house laboratory and imaging services for faster results and patient convenience. The new unit will help patients who need additional care as they transition from the hospital to home.

“We are excited to expand health care services at AdventHealth Dade City and fill a need in our community that will make it easier for people to live their healthiest life possible,” said Jason Newmyer, vice president for AdventHealth Dade City. “Our Transitional Care Unit is another example of our commitment to providing the best care possible.”

Studies show transitional care units can reduce hospital readmissions up to 75 percent. Unlike many transitional care units, which provide therapy only five days a week, AdventHealth Dade City will care for patients 24/7 and care will be provided by health care professionals who are specifically trained to assist patients with their continuum of care using state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment.

“Even after patients are discharged, some need a little extra care so they’re 100 percent back on their feet and don’t reinjure themselves once they are home,” said Gwen Alonso, chief nursing officer of AdventHealth Dade City. “We want to provide whole person care that gives people everything they need for a safe transition from the hospital to home.”

Because the environment you recover in is just as important as the care you receive, the transitional care unit is also uniquely designed to provide a nurturing and healing experience. The unit offers beds without rails, allows patients to wear their own clothes instead of hospital gowns, provides 24/7 access to a social services worker, and includes an activities room with scheduled events to encourage patients to get active and on the path to a fast, healthy recovery.