Sheltering Arms and VCU Health System Break Ground on New Rehab Institute

RICHMOND, Va. (May 15, 2018) — Sheltering Arms and VCU Health System broke ground Tuesday to begin construction on their new 114-bed rehabilitation facility that will be located on 25 acres in the West Creek Medical Park off Broad Street Road, just east of the state Route 288 interchange in Goochland County.

Officials and staff from both organizations were present in addition to donors, patients, community members, and other leaders in the community. Attendees heard remarks from VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D.; Sheltering Arms CEO Mary Zweifel; Chair of Sheltering Arms Board of Directors Dianne Jewell, P.T., D.P.T., Ph.D.; and patients Cole Sydnor and William Berry who shared their perspectives on what the joint venture will offer the community.

“Today marks an important step forward in our plan to bring advanced technology, research, and evidenced-based clinical care together under one roof in order to offer our patients the best possible outcomes for success. Today we celebrate the building that will bring that goal to life,” said Mary Zweifel, president and CEO of Sheltering Arms.

The joint venture combines inpatient beds from both organizations to create a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art destination hospital focused on caring for individuals who have survived strokes, spinal cord injuries or brain injuries, as well as those in need of general rehabilitation or various neurological diseases and disorders.

“This is one more way that VCU Health is committed to providing the very best care for the people of the Richmond Region and continuing to advance our mission of serving the public good and helping restore the health of those who need us. We are proud to provide a new avenue of access in our community to the leading-edge thinking, research, teaching, and clinical practice which has made VCU Health nationally renowned,” said Deborah Davis, CEO of VCU Hospitals and Clinics and vice president for clinical affairs at VCU.

The groundbreaking concluded with the ceremonious turning of the dirt. Sheltering Arms Rehab
Institute is expected to open its doors in late spring of 2020.