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HOWLAND -- Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital opened its doors to the public Sunday to showcase what the hospital has provided to the community for the past 60 years.
Established in the summer of 1963, the hospital now has three locations -- the original one in Howland and others in Austintown aThe 60th anniversary open house included tours of the two large therapy rooms, musical entertainment, 40-plus basket raffles, health screenings and food.
Jeff Koontz, president of the hospital, said the facility has a great history, transitioning from a tuberculosis hospital to an in-patient rehabilitation hospital. He said many employees have been at the hospital for more than 40 years.
"It is a truly a great team we have here with everyone coming together each day to work. The employees came up with the idea to have the open house for the 60th anniversary," he said.
Koontz said the Howland facility has seen additions over the years, with the original part of the hospital from the 1920s and then a major addition in the 1970s, with the rehabilitation area and the nursing units added in the 1990s.
He said patients come to the hospital for therapy after strokes, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries and cardiac events. Staff work with patients so they are able to return home.
Koontz said outpatient services such as physical, speech and occupational therapy, also are available.
"We want to let people see what we do and our excellent rehab services and our large therapy gyms. We show how we help people get in and out of their own vehicles to get home. Over 70 percent of our patients do return home and the average stay here is 14 days. Our staff is dedicated to our patients," Koontz said.
A vehicle that was worked on by students at Trumbull Career and Technical Center is used in the therapy room, he said.
Koontz said the hospital has been around for 60 years is because it is needed.
Susan Pisegna, president of the hospital auxiliary and board president, said she first came to the hospital in 1985 when she was injured and then came to physical education programs in 2005.
"I then got involved with volunteerism here. I have been involved with the Pep Club, which is one of the physical education programs here," Pisegna said.
"The auxiliary does fundraising and helps the hospital with what it might need. We ask the department heads what they need. We purchased benches for outside the hospital," Pisegna said of the 14-member auxiliary.
Longtime employees JoAnne Bruton and Theresa Krapacs, both rehabilitation aides, were helping at the Sunday event.
Bruton, who has worked at the hospital for 43 years, said many employees stay because of the family-like atmosphere.
"I hear from so many how fabulous it is to work here in such a nice environment. I enjoy being able to help the patients," she said.
Krapacs, of Masury, who has been there for 42 years, was trained by Bruton and agreed the staff and patients are what make it enjoyable to work at the hospital.
Tracy Anthony of Hartford, who has worked for one year, said her mother was a patient at the hospital and was happy with her time and help received.
"I have been here for one year and enjoy being here," she said.
Bruton said proceeds from the raffles will benefit Trumbull Mobile Meals.