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Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital & Outpatient Center
 Since its establishment in 1987 as the first physical rehabilitation hospital in central Massachusetts, Fairlawn has enjoyed a reputation as the area's premier provider of physical rehabilitation services.
Because rehabilitation is Fairlawn's sole focus, our expert staff dedicates all their skills and knowledge to a single goal — improving each patient's functional abilities through intensive, individualized therapeutic services. Helping patients to attain that goal is enhanced by our longstanding partnerships with all of central Massachusetts' major healthcare facilities. Through these partnerships, Fairlawn has an extensive staff of onsite physicians with unmatched expertise in their medical specialties.
Fairlawn itself is a partnership of two outstanding healthcare organizations — UMass Memorial Health Care, the area's predominant teaching hospital, and HEALTHSOUTH Corporation, the nation's largest provider of physical rehabilitation services. Through this unique collaboration, our patients and their families receive the expert rehabilitative care they need to resume productive, fulfilling lives.
Inpatient Specialty Programs
Our 110-bed acute rehabilitation facility offers the following inpatient specialty programs:
Outpatient Specialty Programs & Services
The Fairlawn Outpatient Center, located on the hospital's easily accessible ground-floor level, provides a full complement of rehabilitation services as well as specialty programs. Those specialty programs include:
Our Outpatient Center also provides the following specialty clinics and procedures:
Specialty Clinics
- Brace/Orthotics Clinic
- Driving Evaluations
- Second Chance Stroke Screenings
- Wheelchair Clinic
Special Procedures
- Botulinum Toxin (Botox) Injections
- Electro-Diagnostic Evaluations (EMG)
- Nerve Blocks
- Swallowing Evaluations
- Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Studies
Fairlawn's Mission Statement
The mission of Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital is to be the premier provider of an integrated model of rehabilitation services with a preeminence in specialty rehabilitation programs that result in measurable benefits for the community, the hospital, the staff, the volunteers, and, most importantly, the patient and family.
Fairlawn's History
The seeds of Fairlawn's success as a comprehensive acute rehabilitation hospital were sown more than 80 years ago. In 1921, with the intent of establishing a general hospital dedicated to meeting the needs of area residents, Worcester's Scandinavian community purchased the James A. Norcross Estate known as "Fairlawn." For the next 65 years, as a 104-bed acute care hospital, Fairlawn became known for providing quality care in a warm, family-like atmosphere.
From the 1920's through the mid 1980's Fairlawn served as a small medical-surgical hospital. In 1987, it became the first hospital in central Massachusetts dedicated solely to providing physical rehabilitation services.
By the 1980's, changes in Worcester's medical community — adjustments in medical practice/reimbursement and severe overbedding — challenged Fairlawn, the smallest hospital in Worcester, to reassess its community role.
As hospital officials pondered Fairlawn's future, their goal became two-fold. Like Fairlawn's founders, they wanted to provide services needed by the greater Worcester community and retain the friendly, people-oriented care for which Fairlawn was known. In 1985, a two-year study led them to rehabilitation medicine, a field they found to be most consistent with their objectives.
To begin re-carving their niche in Worcester's healthcare community, Fairlawn's Board of Directors signed a 10-year management contract with New England Rehabilitation Services of central Massachusetts (NERSCM), a consortium of the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, the Group Practice of Fallon and Fallon Community Health Plan, and New England Rehabilitation Hospital Woburn. Under that contract, NERSCM agreed to operate the medical-surgical hospital while the transition to a rehab facility was being planned and implemented.
The Transition . . .
By July of 1987, with state approval for a 30-bed acute rehabilitation unit, Fairlawn began eliminating acute care operations, hiring rehabilitation specialists, training existing staff, and renovating the hospital to accommodate patients with rehabilitation needs. On September 30, Fairlawn closed its doors for two weeks to make final transition preparations.
During those weeks, veteran Fairlawn employees joined hands with newly hired staff as they attended training sessions, prepared patient rooms, and groomed hospital grounds. Stimulated by their involvement in a new endeavor, their growing sense of camaraderie set the foundation for the team treatment approach on which Fairlawn would base its future.
Breaking New Ground . . .
In October of 1987, Fairlawn became the first hospital in the United States ever to have closed its doors as a medical-surgical hospital and then reopen as a fully functional acute rehabilitation facility.
With a 30-bed patient unit and therapeutic gymnasium, the hospital provided a full-complement of rehabilitation services, including: Internal medicine, physical and rehabilitation medicine, nursing, neuropsychology, social services, pastoral care, and physical, occupational, therapeutic recreational, vocational, and speech/language therapies.
In the years ahead, Fairlawn would continue to expand its services and develop new programs to help individuals with disabilities to achieve physical, social, spiritual, and emotional independence.
 
Fairlawn Milestones . . .
1987 - 1988
- Establishes five specialty inpatient programs: Amputee, Oncology, Brain Injury, Young Stroke, and Spinal Cord Injury
- Opens an additional 24-bed unit, bringing the total to 54 beds
- Earns three-year accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
- Establishes a Community Medical Advisory Committee composed of physicians from area hospitals and a Community Advisory Board comprised of individuals with disabilities/representatives of organizations serving the disabled
1988 -1989
- Establishes Orthopedic Rehabilitation Program for individuals with
amputations, joint replacements, and other complex orthopedic conditions
- Expands its medical staff to include a full-time hospital-based internal
medicine physician, a third physiatrist (physician specializing in physical
medicine), and psychiatric services
- Adds 26 beds (80 total) and opened a second therapeutic gymnasium
1989 - 1990
- Nursing staff members earn certification in rehabilitation nursing (CRRN)
- Expands community outreach: Hosts joint Conference on Traumatic Brain
Injury with the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and introduces
"Feet First," an injury prevention program for area elementary/secondary
school students
- Expands Pastoral Care Program to include both full-time and part-time
Chaplains
- Earns three-year accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of
Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
1990 - 1991
- Opens newly renovated outpatient center and radiology suite
- Implements Geriatric Rehabilitation Program
- Earns second three-year JCAHO accreditation
- Expands medical staff to include an additional physiatrist, internal medicine
physicians, and a full-time psychiatrist
- Enters into change of ownership agreement with NERSCM; establishes the
Fairlawn Foundation, which offers support for healthcare research and
educational projects
1991 - 1992
- Establishes 30-bed Geriatric and Oncology Rehabilitation Unit (at UMMC
City Campus)
- Establishes Geriatric Evaluation Management Program, outpatient Industrial
Medicine & Rehabilitation Program, Wheelchair Clinic, and Functional
Restoration Program
1992 - 1993
- Breaks ground for four-story hospital addition, paving the way for
construction of therapeutic gymnasiums adjacent to second and third floor
patient wings
- Welcomes four new program directors
- Earns three-year CARF accreditation
1993 - 1994
- Assumes management of the Worcester County Pulmonary Ventilator Unit,
offering medical respiratory, and comprehensive rehabilitation services for
ventilator dependent individuals
- Opens new four-story addition with therapeutic gymnasiums adjacent to
each patient unit
- Earns three-year JCAHO accreditation
1994 - 1995
- Implements Central Massachusetts' first inpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Program
- Opens Spine Center of Central Massachusetts, offering outpatient treatment
for individuals with back and/or neck pain
- Receives Exemplary Employer Award from Governor's Commission on
Employment of People With Disabilities
1995 - 1996
- Welcomes the clinical and managerial expertise of HEALTHSOUTH, the
country's leading provider of medical and rehabilitative services through its
acquisition of AdvantageHEALTH Corporation
- Opens new 36-bed Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Unit
- Relocates Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit from the City Campus to the May
Street Campus
- Implements outpatient Osteoporosis Program and Total Knee Replacement
Program
- Earns three-year CARF accreditation
1996 - 1997
- Introduces Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
- Additional registered nurses earn CRRN credential, making majority of
eligible nurses certified in rehabilitation nursing
- Earns three-year JCAHO accreditation
1997 - 1998
- Hosts annual golf tournament to benefit Massachusetts Head Injury
Association and sponsors local MS Walk
- Celebrates 10th anniversary as acute rehabilitation hospital
- Hosts therapeutic recreation seminar for rehabilitation professionals
1998 - 1999
- Implements inpatient and outpatient Lymphedema Program
- Introduces Animal Assisted Therapy Program
- Hosts Autumn Arts Festival for artists with disabilities and first annual
softball tournament to benefit United Cerebral Palsy and Arthritis Foundation
- Earns three-year CARF accreditation
1999 - 2000
- Implements new outpatient Arthritis Program
- Hosts wheelchair tennis tournament, golf clinic for individuals with
disabilities, and annual softball tournament to benefit National Spinal Cord
Injury Society and the Travis Roy Foundation
- Earns three-year JCAHO accreditation
2000 - 2001
- Opens newly renovated Outpatient Center with spacious therapeutic
gymnasium, treatment areas, and physician offices
- Implements Patient Advocate Liaison program to improve patient/family-
staff communication
- Establishes partnership with American Stroke Association: Implements
Second Chance Stroke screenings for stroke survivors and hosts Stroke
Survivor Caregiver Conference
- Hosts annual softball tournament to benefit the Dan Manning Jr.
Scholarship Fund for Worcester State College occupational therapy
students
2001 - 2002
- Expands outpatient Spine Center to include services for seniors and
expectant mothers
- Hosts annual softball tournament to benefit the American Heart Association
- Hosts second Stroke Survivor ~ Caregiver Conference
- Celebrates 15 years as Central Massachusetts' premiere provider of physical rehabilitation services
2002 - 2003
- Supports the American Heart Association's Worcester American Heart Walk.
- Hosts annual benefit softball tournament. Tournament raises $7,000 for the Dan
Manning, Jr. Scholarship Fund, which assists students enrolled in the Worcester State
College Occupational Therapy Program.
- Expands specialized outpatient services to treat spasticity.
2003 - 2004
- Collaborates with UMass Memorial Healthcare and Worcester Medical Center to
provide comprehensive baclofen pump program.
- Hosts free Golf Clinic for People with Disabilities.
- Continues Second Chance Stroke Program and free blood pressure clinics.
- Hosts wheelchair basketball game to benefit the Bay State Wheelers
- Nursing Department visits local elementary schools to raise awareness about the
nursing profession.
- Introduces VitalStim Therapy
2004 - 2005
- Hosts annual Stroke Survivor-Caregiver Forum with the American Stroke Association.
- Begins using the AutoAmbulator for outpatient and inpatient neuron-rehabilitation programs.
- Holds Open House to introduce new technologies to the Central Massachusetts' community.
2005 - 2006
- Hosts a group of high school students from the National Youth Leadership Program, which helps prepare young people for a variety of professional careers.
- Initiates partnership with Worcester State College's Nursing Program; introduced Nursing Scholarship Program.
- Holds seventh annual Toys for Tots campaign and hospital-wide effort to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina.
2006 - 2007
- Earns three year JCAHO accreditation.
- Hosts ninth annual wheelchair basketball game, raising $4,500 to support sports and recreation programs for people with disabilities.
- Holds free SaeboFlex screenings and SaeboFlex educational program for therapists.
2008 - Present
- Earns designation as a Stroke Rehabilitation Center of Excellence.
- Participating in Extreme Make-Over Home Edition OT Department helps build a fully accessible home for a Massachusetts man.
- Develops and implements smoke-free campus.
- Holds on-campus events including: OT Fair, Patient Olympics, Holiday Food Drive, lecture by president of National Association of Rehab Nurses, Give a Book campaign, and Toys for Tots campaign.
- Rehab Department builds and plants raised vegetable gardens for use in patient therapy.
- Raises record-breaking $6,200 through wheelchair basketball game.
- Nursing Department chosen from among HealthSouth’s national network of 93 acute rehabilitation hospitals to receive the Nursing Excellence Award.
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