- Lindsay Cashio
Choose the health content that’s right for you, and get it delivered right in your inbox.

TAVARES, Fla. – AdventHealth Waterman has begun a nearly $3 million construction project to expand its Inpatient Rehabilitation Center, growing from 12 to 22 beds.
This unit helps patients recover from serious medical conditions, life-altering events or accidents such as strokes, brain injuries, heart attacks, loss of a limb or spinal cord injuries.
"The patients who come to our inpatient rehab have had a major event. They've had an incident that has drastically changed their life, as well as their loved ones," said Dr. Kami Strong, medical director of inpatient rehabilitation services at AdventHealth Waterman. “Keeping them close to home, where family can attend therapy sessions and continue to provide them with needed support, is essential to help them recover.”
First opened in January 2020 as a 12-bed unit, AdventHealth reserved space to add more beds in the future.
Slated for completion this summer, the construction of these additional 10 beds, funded by generous community support through the AdventHealth Waterman Foundation, will address the community’s growing needs, as the current unit operated at full capacity throughout most of 2023.
"This is the largest gift our Foundation has committed to in a single year since 2019, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to support this needed service in our community," said Mabel Valdivia, AdventHealth Waterman Foundation executive director.

Notably, all rooms in the Inpatient Rehabilitation Center at AdventHealth Waterman are private and the unit has specialized amenities, including a bariatric room tailored to accommodate patients weighing over 750 pounds, ensuring comfort and dignity for all.
Additionally, the unit incorporates state-of-the-art technology and equipment to support patients in their recovery and improve endurance and strength.
There is a 100-foot-long Vector Gait Bioness track system to help patients begin walking without the fear or risk of falling.
Also, the Bioness® Integrated Therapy System (BITS) helps patients improve their memory, balance, vision cognition and motor coordination.
For patients with limited arm and hand mobility, the unit’s ArmeoSpring system provides arm and hand training.

In the gym, there is a hydraulic car that adjusts to the exact height of the patient’s personal car so patients can practice getting in-and-out of their vehicle safely.
Additionally, the unit provides realistic residential settings, a functional kitchen and laundry facilities, allowing patients to relearn and practice real-life scenarios, such as cooking or doing laundry at-home, while they are still in the hospital.
“A big part of inpatient rehab is helping patients practice the things that they did at home before their injury or medical episode,” said Delaine Guitian, AdventHealth Waterman inpatient rehabilitation services senior manager. “In our kitchen, they can practice making meals. In our suite, which is like an apartment, patients can practice safely getting in and out of a standard bed, doing laundry, and more, all to help them get ready to return home.”
Robins & Morton of Orlando will perform the construction, and when completed this summer, AdventHealth Waterman will grow to a 310-bed facility.
Once the expansion is finished, AdventHealth will have 144 inpatient rehabilitation beds across four locations in Florida at AdventHealth Daytona Beach, AdventHealth Tampa, AdventHealth Waterman and AdventHealth Winter Park.
Recent News
A teenager with autism met with the Flight 1 team to tour its helicopter and facilities.
A first-of-its-kind report from global consulting firm Charles River Associates shows AdventHealth contributed over $16 billion in economic benefits to Florida in 2023.
AdventHealth Avista is proud to celebrate Nina Huffer, Chief Nursing Officer, for being named the recipient of the 2025 Excellence in Nursing – Nursing Administration: Executive / CNO award for the...
AdventHealth is the first in Wesley Chapel to offer HYDROS™ Robotic System: A leading-edge AI-powered platform for Aquablation Therapy to treat BPH, or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
The success of this case underscores the impact of early symptom recognition, coordinated EMS response, and hospital readiness.
The AdventHealth Championship announced the winners of the inaugural Grayson Murray Be Kind to One Another Legacy Award: longtime Korn Ferry Tour player Josh Teater is the winner of the player/caddie...
AdventHealth South Overland Park has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart and Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Primary Stroke Certification.
AdventHealth Zephyrhills honors first responders during EMS Week.
Hear from our doctors and nurses why they love our EMS partners, and join us in saying thank you.
Skin Cancer Awareness Month serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of vigilance in detecting and preventing skin cancer, the most common cancer affecting both men and women in the United...
A former patient of AdventHealth Littleton returned to recognize NICU moms on Mother’s Day.
Setting healthy boundaries with clear expectations will allow for your child’s emotional growth, which aids in their overall mental health. Learn more at AdventHealthKC.com/BehavioralHealth.