Governor signs bill designating Rancho as 'rehabilitation innovation center'
DOWNEY – A bill that would designate Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center as a ‘rehabilitation innovation center’ has been signed by the Governor.
Photo by Pam Lane, DowneyDailyPhotos.com
Authored by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), AB 1411 originated from constituents through her yearly ‘There Ought to Be a Law’ contest.
Assembly Bill 1411 designates the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center as a ‘rehabilitation innovation center’. The designation recognizes an inpatient rehabilitation research center that has particular expertise in treating patients with the most complex rehabilitation needs.
“Rancho Los Amigos is one of the most premiere facilities in the country, provides care to approximately 4,000 inpatients and 71,000 outpatients annually, making it one of the largest rehabilitation centers in the nation,” said Garcia. “At a time when healthcare for working Americans is in a perilous position, 85% of this center’s patients are on MediCal and it’s the only public rehabilitation facility in Southern California.”
As the only rehabilitation hospital in Los Angeles County’s Department of Health Services, the center serves a unique and vital role in patient recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration. The hospital specializes in brain, neurology, orthopedic, pediatric, spine injury, and stroke rehabilitation. Each year, the hospital provides care to approximately 4,000 inpatients and 71,000 outpatients, making it one of the largest rehabilitation centers in the nation.
“This designation will help ensure that Rancho continues to provide the highest level of care to the residents of Southern California,” said Jorge Orozco, CEO of Rancho Los Amigos. “It also ensures that the cutting edge research that Rancho conducts will continue to benefit patients in need regardless of ability to pay, and will ultimately help shape the future of rehabilitation in this country.”
A video of just one of the innovative treatment’s the center has created can be found here. In it, nodes connected directly to a paraplegic man’s brain control a robotic arm enabling him to drink a beer for the first time by himself since his accident.
“Their innovative care and ability to heal thousands of people every year not only provide a beckon of hope for patients in need but they’re also a fantastic example of the services and advancements burgeoning in this region,” added Garcia.
“The work Ranch Los Amigos does is amazing—just watch the video! The potential partnerships to advance care and innovation in rehabilitation treatments are endless and I’m excited about the opportunity their innovation brings to the community.”