York’s White Oak Manor opens new outpatient therapy wing

White Oak Manor has opened a new outpatient therapy treatment area intended to offer rehabilitation services to the community that until now were available only to its residents.

The 109-bed skilled nursing facility, which offers short-term rehabilitation and long-term care, saw a need to expand into outpatient rehab services needed by people of all ages, said administrator Michelle Lambert.

“We are always looking for ways we can improve our services and enhance them,” Lambert said Thursday, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Greater York Chamber of Commerce.

Lambert said the center’s new 15,274-square foot wing includes a gym area with equipment for physical therapy treatment. It also includes a bathroom, bedroom and kitchen area where occupational therapy patients can practice independent living skills, like getting in and out of a shower, making a bed and cooking meals.

The renovated wing, on the south side of White Oak Manor’s 111 S. Congress St. building in downtown York, includes a patient drop-off area. It also includes a beauty shop for residents, a classroom for certified nursing assistant education and a community room for special programs.

Lambert said the wing formerly housed the Divine Saviour Hospital emergency room, an X-ray area, operating rooms and laboratory. White Oak Manor purchased the former Divine Saviour building in 1992.

She said the renovations have been underway for almost two years. “We have waited a very long time for this renovation to be complete,” she said during the ribbon cutting.

Lambert said the new wing allows White Oak to offer its physical, occupational and speech therapy programs to a much broader group of people. She said the center did not need to hire new staff to open the outpatient center.

She said the center also has adopted treatment plans that allow its staff to help people with a wide range of conditions.

She said White Oak began using the new therapy area for its residents last week. It plans an open house in October, she said, for doctors and other health professionals who may refer patients to the center.

“Right now, we’re working on the marketing and getting the word out,” she said.

Deirdre Davis, a physical therapy assistant and rehabilitation manager, said the therapy services were previously offered to center residents in a smaller area in another part of the center.

“We are positive it will help,” Davis said about the larger treatment area. “And we are really looking forward to doing things for the community, for schools and industry.”

Lambert said the York center is owned by White Oak Manor of Spartanburg. The company owns 15 skilled nursing facilities in North and South Carolina, she said.

This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 2:02 PM with the headline "York’s White Oak Manor opens new outpatient therapy wing."