MECHANICSBURG, Pa. and SAN DIEGO, Oct. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Select Medical Corporation SEM, UC San Diego Health and Vibra Healthcare, LLC today announced the formation of two joint ventures to serve San Diego and its surrounding communities. Under the agreements, one joint venture will operate a critical illness recovery hospital, also known as long-term acute care, and the other will operate an inpatient rehabilitation hospital.

"These partnerships represent best-in-class health systems coming together under a common mission to deliver superior post-acute care," said Select Medical President and Chief Executive Officer David Chernow.  "Our collective commitment to clinical excellence, an exceptional patient experience and best outcomes will provide unmatched health care services for the growing patient population throughout Southern California."

As part of the joint ventures, Vibra Healthcare contributed its existing Vibra Hospital of San Diego, maintaining majority ownership. Select Medical will serve as the new operating manager of the hospital, renaming it Select Specialty Hospital – San Diego. It will mark the 99th critical illness recovery hospital within Select Medical's nationwide network.       

"We are very excited to join forces with Select Medical and UC San Diego Health to provide a state-of-the-art continuum of post-acute hospital care in one location," stated Brad Hollinger, chairman and chief executive officer of Vibra Healthcare. "This delivery model enables patients to receive exceptional care in the appropriate hospital setting, ensuring continuity of care and convenience for both the patient and their family."

Additionally, the partnership will bring pre-eminent inpatient rehabilitation services to the region with a new hospital to serve patients with conditions, including: stroke, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. Select Medical will be the majority owner and operate the 42-bed hospital, expected to open in 2019.  Select Medical currently operates 26 inpatient rehabilitation hospitals across the U.S.   

"This novel collaboration allows us to significantly improve and expand the continuum of safe, high-quality care we offer our patients," said Patty Maysent, chief executive officer, UC San Diego Health.  "As an academic health system, we care for patients with deeply complex medical needs who may benefit from extended acute care or rehabilitation. With the comprehensive resources and clinical expertise of Select Medical, Vibra Healthcare and UC San Diego Health, we have developed an efficient model of care that will promote better transitions of care for all patients throughout the community."

About UC San Diego Health
As the region's only academic health system, UC San Diego Health is dedicated to delivering outstanding patient care through commitment to the community, groundbreaking research and inspired teaching. UC San Diego Health includes UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest and Jacobs Medical Center, Moores Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center and Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, all in La Jolla, as well as other primary and specialty practices located throughout Southern California. For more information, visit www.health.ucsd.edu.

About Vibra Healthcare
Vibra Healthcare, LLC is a post-acute care provider based in Mechanicsburg, PA that is focused on the development, acquisition, and operation of freestanding specialty acute care hospitals, medical rehabilitation hospitals, and outpatient physical rehabilitation centers. Teams of highly trained specialists lead clinical programs at Vibra's specialty hospitals for rehabilitating patients who suffer from strokes, multiple traumas, major orthopedic, neurologic, cardiac, and respiratory conditions. Vibra and its affiliates currently employ over 6,000 employees and own and operate 45 specialty hospitals, transitional care units/facilities, and hospital-based outpatient physical therapy locations in 14 states. For additional information about Vibra Healthcare's network of specialty hospitals and post-acute care continuum, please visit our website at www.vibrahealthcare.com.

About Select Medical
Select Medical is one of the largest operators of critical illness recovery hospitals (previously referred to as long-term acute care hospitals), rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and occupational health centers in the United States based on the number of facilities. As of June 30, 2018, Select Medical operated 98 critical illness recovery hospitals in 27 states, 26 rehabilitation hospitals in 11 states, and 1,638 outpatient rehabilitation clinics in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Select Medical's joint venture subsidiary Concentra operated 527 occupational health centers in 41 states. Concentra also provides contract services at employer worksites and Department of Veterans Affairs' community-based outpatient clinics. At June 30, 2018, Select Medical had operations in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Information about Select Medical is available at www.selectmedical.com.

Media Contacts
For Select Medical: Shelly Eckenroth, 717-920-4035 or seckenroth@selectmedical.com
For Vibra Healthcare: Diane Pierce, 717-591-5780 or dpierce@vibrahealth.com 
For UC San Diego Health: Jacqueline Carr, 858-249-0420 or jcarr@ucsd.edu 

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SOURCE Select Medical