New Spaulding Rehab Hospital Welcomes Patients

The new Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in the Charlestown Navy Yard welcomed its first patients over the weekend, as staff members coordinated to move more than 100 people from the hospital’s Nashua Street location to their new temporary residence across the river.

Among the first to settle into the new building—the first, actually, as he was sure to point out to a reporter from the Boston Globe—was Randy Clukey, a 53-year-old builder from Maine who was injured in a snowmobile accident in February.

Located at the corner of 16th Street and First Avenue, the is a significant upgrade from Spaulding Rehabilitation Network’s aging building on Nashua Street and offers the latest technology and resources for people who are recovering from spinal cord and brain injuries, strokes, amputations, burns and other injuries.

At just over eight stories—the ninth floor houses mechanical equipment—the new building has private rooms for up to 132 patients, including 12 in the pediatric unit, and also houses outpatient services. On the first floor, the building offers meeting space for community groups and a cafeteria that is open daily to the public.

A grand opening celebration for the new building was held Saturday, April 20 in the Navy Yard, attended by Mayor Thomas Menino, members of the Charlestown Neighborhood Council and others.

A community open house and health fair previously scheduled for Sunday, April 21 was postponed following the events of the prior week—the bombings at the Boston Marathon and the successive manhunt and citywide lockdown that occurred Friday, April 19. A new date has not yet been set for the event.

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, along with Massachusetts General Hospital, will host a community forum this Thursday, May 2 to discuss the Charlestown area comprehensive health needs assessment that has been conducted over the past 18 months. The forum will be held at the Knights of Columbus hall. Dinner will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the meeting from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the Charlestown community.