New Life Care Center approved for patients

Life Care Center of South Hill is approved to take patients after completing certification survey.

Life Care Center is a new post-acute rehabilitation and nursing center in Puyallup. The center provides short-term rehabilitation and post-acute care with the goal of patients returning to the community. Long-term and respite care services are also available for those requiring continued registered nursing services.

The new facility is two stories and nearly 80,000 square feet, offering 80 private rooms and 10 semiprivate rooms. The property is more than 7 acres, featuring park-like landscaping.

“This new facility is a gift to our patients, associates and community,” Karen Williams, the center’s executive director, said in a release. “We have 24-hour registered nursing services and on-site diagnostic tools that set us apart. This beautiful new building, with amenities drawn from the hospitality industry, will help us maximize outcomes for our patients.”

These amenities include a library, a private dining room for get-togethers, two fine dining rooms, restaurant-style menus, cafés, lounges with fireplaces for visiting and relaxing, walking paths, a beauty shop to help patients stay well-groomed and free Wi-Fi to keep them connected.

The rehabilitation gym provides a therapeutic environment for inpatient and outpatient therapy services, which are available seven days a week. Life Care Center of South Hill has a team of in-house physical, occupational and speech therapists, as well as an array of modern rehab equipment.

In addition to the therapists, nursing staff and other supporting associates, Dr. Stan Flemming is now serving as an on-site physician for consultation and management of patient care. A physician’s office, exam room and waiting area have been built into the facility for easy access for patients and families.

Life Care Center of South Hill is joining its sister facility, Life Care Center of Puyallup, in providing service to the Puyallup community and Pierce County. When the new building is fully operational, the two facilities will employ more than 300 people. Both centers are run by Life Care Centers of America, which operates or manages 16 such facilities in Washington.

Founded in 1976, Life Care is a nationwide health care company. With headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, Life Care operates or manages more than 200 nursing, post-acute and Alzheimer’s centers in 28 states.

This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 10:55 AM with the headline "New Life Care Center approved for patients."