Major advances in neurological care for adults and children will become available at Unity Hospital with the establishment of the Golisano Restorative Neurology & Rehabilitation Center made possible by a $10 million gift from B. Thomas Golisano.

Unity will expand and build upon its unique capabilities in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, stroke rehabilitation, neurological, pre-surgical and post-surgical services. The Center will serve adults and children in need of both inpatient and outpatient care for conditions that range from brain and spinal cord injuries to joint replacements to diseases such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.

The Golisano Center will be located at Unity Hospital in newly-renovated space currently under construction as part of Unity Hospital’s four-year Modernization & Expansion Project. A key component of the Center is Unity’s Acute Rehabilitation & Brain Injury Unit, which will be relocated from the Unity St. Mary’s Campus by early 2014. The Center will also facilitate clinical research in restorative techniques, and ensure that patients have access to state-of-the-art diagnostics, rehabilitation treatments, and adaptive devices.

“We are extremely grateful for this generous gift,” said Warren Hern, president and CEO of Unity Health System. “Over the past 20 years, our program has expanded beyond a brain injury unit into an outstanding, nationally recognized program that is like no other in New York State. In fact, very few organizations in the country have our unique range of resources. Thanks to Mr. Golisano’s generosity, we can now expand the scope of our services and our positive impact on our community.”

“I am pleased to contribute to the creation of this new Center,” said Golisano. Given its experience in this field, I believe Unity has all the elements in place now to create a regional Center of Excellence for rehabilitation services. Individuals and families need to receive quality care right here at home and now they can.”

Unity has the largest base of neuro-rehabilitation professionals in the Rochester area, headed by Mary L. Dombovy, M.D., M.H.S.A., chair of Unity Hospital’s Department of Rehabilitation and Neurology. Her team also includes eight board-certified physician specialists in spinal cord injury care, vascular care, headache, pain, and electro- diagnostics; three neuropsychologists; more than 20 nursing professionals, and 95 therapists.

“As neurologic rehabilitation evolves into ‘restorative neurology,’ we’re promoting recovery and restoring function,” said Dr. Dombovy. “Advances in today’s tools and technology are helping us to actually repair the brain as opposed to simply helping patients adjust to living with their conditions.”

Since 1989, Unity Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation has served pediatric and adult patients with brain and spinal injuries. The patient-centered approach also provides information and support to family members and others close to the patient.

As the only licensed inpatient acute brain injury rehabilitation program in Upstate New York, Unity serves patients from Rochester and surrounding areas, including the Southern Tier and Pennsylvania.

Unity’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation program is:

• The only program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in Western New York, a designation held since 1994.
• The only pediatric rehabilitation unit in Western New York.
• The Regional Resource Development Center for Individuals with a Traumatic Brain Injury, as designated by the New York State – Department of Health.
• Specialized in stroke care.  Unity Hospital is a Stroke Center, as designated by the New York State Department of Health
• The only rehabilitation center in Rochester that participates in a national database.

The new Center will be located on the Unity Park Ridge Campus in Unity Hospital’s newly constructed fourth floor, once completed, and will include inpatient beds and modern rehabilitation facilities with the state-of-the-art medical equipment.

About B. Thomas Golisano

B. Thomas Golisano, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader, is Chairman of Paychex, Inc., a national leader in the payroll and human resource industry. Mr. Golisano founded Paychex in 1971, and served as President and Chief Executive Officer until 2004. Mr. Golisano serves on the boards of several private companies and non-profit organizations and is currently a trustee of Rochester Institute of Technology. He is also owner of the National Hockey League team, the Buffalo Sabres. He has been widely recognized for his entrepreneurial, civic, and philanthropic achievements and endeavors by many organizations and national publications including Forbes and Chief Executive. Golisano has contributed over $140 million to local charities and institutions. For more information see www.golisanofoundation.org.

About Unity Health System

At Unity Health System you’ll find the friendliest and most compassionate people dedicated to providing the best possible health care experience. We have over 70 locations in Rochester and Monroe County, including Unity Hospital in the town of Greece and the Unity St. Mary’s Campus in Rochester. Key programs include our Joint Replacement Center, Family Birth Place, Spine Center, Diabetes Center, Chemical Dependency, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, plus the area’s most comprehensive range of services for older adults. ACM Medical Laboratory is the world’s fifth largest provider of clinical trials testing, with locations in western New York, York, England, and lab partnerships across the globe. Our shared commitment to delivering health care the way it should be is reflected in our 98% overall patient satisfaction rating.