FARGO-Work continues on the $22 million Cobalt Rehabilitation Hospital, and interviewing has begun for the chief executive and medical director positions with the expectation that the hospital will begin treating patients in October or November.
The 42-bed hospital at 4671 38th Street S. is located just south of the Microsoft campus and will become North Dakota's first specialty rehabilitation hospital. Twelve of the rooms will be designated for patients recovering from traumatic brain injury or concussion.
"These rooms are specially designed," said Richard Fiske, Cobalt's chief executive officer. All rooms are private, and include an area with a sofa, television and computer so patients can remain active.
"Our attitude is stay out of bed," Fiske said. "That's the worst place to be."
The 60,000-square-foot hospital also will have social areas, with a fireplace and comfortable chairs, to encourage patients to socialize. Meals will be served in dining areas.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We feel there's no reason for them to be in their rooms in bed," Fiske said. "They're not sick, they're broken."
The average length of stay for a rehabilitation patient is relatively long-12 or 13 days for a stroke patient and 30 to 60 days for a patient recovering from a traumatic brain injury-so efforts are made to make the stay as comfortable as possible, Fiske said.
The hospital will include a special rehabilitation gym equipped with robotic machines to help patients regain their abilities. A lot of equipment is designed to help patients recover their sense of balance. The gym will have an indoor ambulation course with a variety of walking surfaces to help patients learn to walk again.
Acute care hospitals typically have a small unit dedicated to stroke recovery, for example, but do not have all of the specialized equipment and facilities, Fiske said.
"All we do is physical rehabilitation," he said. "The patients get better, quicker, than in any other environment."
Cobalt Rehabilitation Hospital of Fargo will become the first rehabilitation specialty hospital in North Dakota and will have a service area with a radius of 75 or 100 miles, with some patients traveling farther.
"We'll get patients from a lot of places," Fiske said, noting Cobalt hospitals sometimes treat patients from abroad.
Cobalt Medical Development, based in Dallas, operates six rehabilitation hospitals. Two more under construction, including the Fargo hospital, which is expected to finish construction in August.
ADVERTISEMENT
Hiring will begin in April or May for positions, including physical, speech and occupational therapists. When fully open, the hospital will have a staff of about 140.
