Good Shepherd Rehabilitation has unveiled a state-of-the-art rehabilitation hospital that is the nexus of talent and technology to help people recover from stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury and other complex injuries or illnesses.

Nationally, only a handful of freestanding rehabilitation hospitals are built each year.

The four-story Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital, 3200 Center Valley Parkway, Upper Saucon Township, will be the only freestanding rehabilitation hospital in the greater Lehigh Valley region, serving as a destination for complex medical rehabilitation.

“In 1967, Good Shepherd opened its first rehabilitation hospital in South Allentown, a 22-bed facility. In 1983, it was expanded to 76 beds. And this Sunday [July 30], we will write the next chapter of our storied history, and further the legacy of Good Shepherd, through this astounding new building,” Good Shepherd Rehabilitation President and CEO Michael Spigel, PT, MHA, said at the July 25 ribbon-cutting ceremony. Good Shepherd was to begin moving patients into the new facility July 30.

“It will provide our team an amazing place to deliver even more incredible care to our patients who place their trust in Good Shepherd,” Spigel said.

The $70-million, 123,000-square-foot hospital has 76 private rooms, rehabilitation-inspired artwork, spacious therapy gyms on four floors, and is filled with rehabilitation technology to help people regain function and independence following injury, illness or surgery.

The hospital is on 45-acres of Good Shepherd-owned land along Center Valley Parkway and across from The Promenade Shops of Saucon Valley, in the vicinity of Route 309, Interstate 78 and Route 378 in Upper Saucon.

“This new hospital opens the door for emerging technologies and opportunities that allows Good Shepherd’s doctors, nurses and therapists to grow as thought leaders and for Good Shepherd to expand as a research and testing hub for manufacturers of new devices,” said Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs Sandeep Singh, MD, FAAPMR.

“Blending leading-edge rehabilitation with the expertise and compassion of our team will empower patients to live lives full of possibilities,” Singh said.

Other features of the hospital:

• Empower+, a free demonstration and education space open to the community to experience and try up-close a variety of leading-edge and innovative technologies and services that help people live life undefined by diagnosis, disease or injury. Empower+ features technology for 3D printing, smart-home controls, virtual reality living-in-place and adaptive gaming.

• The Outdoor Therapy and Activity Gardens, to be completed in September, will feature innovative ways for patients to undergo therapy and participate in activities while staying at the rehabilitation hospital. From gardening and a putting green to green space and trails, the gardens’ offerings were identified and designed by a group of Good Shepherd staff members to help patients achieve their goals and return to their favorite activities.

IMC Construction of Malvern led construction; FCA (Francis Cauffman Architects) of Philadelphia served as architects; KRN Development of Memphis, Tenn., was land developer; Pure Project Management of Philadelphia was project manager; and Pennoni and Hyland of Philadelphia provided engineering consultation.

Good Shepherd’s rehabilitation hospital operations and staff will shift from 850 S. Fifth St., Allentown, to Center Valley.

Good Shepherd will continue to provide physician, residential, outpatient and support services at the South Allentown campus.

Good Shepherd’s administrative offices will remain in South Allentown.

Good Shepherd provides more than 100,000 outpatient visits annually at the Hyland Center for Health & Technology, 850 S. 5th St., Allentown, and those services will remain.

The South Allentown campus is home to more than 100 long-term care and supported independent living residents.

Good Shepherd plans to re-use the former rehabilitation hospital in Allentown and is evaluating options.