Newsweek Ranks Center for Rehabilitation at Wilmington Hospital Among Best in U.S.

'It changed my life for the better'

Ciara Salameda with physical therapist Katie Sterling, DPT.

October 7, 2026

For the fourth year in a row, the ChristianaCare Center for Rehabilitation at Wilmington Hospital has been named one of the nation’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers by Newsweek. The CARF-accredited center was also ranked among the top inpatient rehabilitation facilities in Delaware.

“We care for each patient like they are a member of our own family,” said John Cheng, M.D., MS, FAAPMR, medical director of the Center. “Each patient, their family, their home situation, how they were before and how they want to be in the future, their goals and what they want to achieve in life — that’s what we focus on.” Cheng is also section chief and clinical lead of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

In FY26, the Center for Rehabilitation discharged 890 patients. The average length of stay was 11.6 days, which indicates that patients are making meaningful progress efficiently, Cheng said. “Together, these metrics highlight both the high demand for rehabilitation services and the team’s success in delivering timely, patient-centered care that supports recovery and improves quality of life,” he said.

The Newsweek ranking recognizes the leading 330 inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the U.S. evaluated across clinical quality, professional reputation, quality designations and patient experience. More than half of each score is based on risk-standardized quality measures from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, supplemented by healthcare professional assessments, specialized accreditations and patient reviews.

Physical therapist Colin Burke, DPT, assists patient Bill Henderson, who is recovering from a stroke, with stair-climbing at the Center’s gym.

“The patient always comes first: Our expert team is dedicated to providing the best rehabilitation care with compassion and respect for every patient’s unique journey,” said Jennifer Thomas, MBA, MS, CCC-SLP, FACHE, vice president of Rehabilitation Services.

“Nothing is more rewarding than helping people achieve meaningful progress and regain the independence and quality of life that matter most to them.”

‘The Patient Always Comes First’

The most common diagnoses treated at the Center are traumatic and nontraumatic spinal cord and brain injuries, stroke, medical disability from long-term hospitalization, and hip and knee injuries, Thomas said. She noted that more patients are arriving at the Center with increasingly complex medical needs.

The Center’s spinal cord injury volume has also increased, and more patients have higher-level spinal cord injuries that can cause deficits in all four limbs. Certified rehabilitation nurses and therapy professionals with specific expertise in spinal care support these patients.

Michael Rominger prepares pancakes in breakfast group therapy as practice for cooking at home after spine surgery with recreational therapist Monica Foy, CTRS.

“Many medical specialties aim to add years to a patient’s life. Our aim is to add life to their years,” Cheng said. At 90 days post-discharge, 95% of patients were living back at home in the community, better than the national average of 93%, according to data from calendar year 2025.

Speech-language pathologist Abby Hidalgo, MA, CCC-SLP, works with a patient to improve swallowing strength.

The Center’s interdisciplinary team includes doctors, nurses, therapists, patient care technicians, case managers, social workers, environmental services and transport staff who all support patients on their rehabilitation journey. “This team approach sets up our patients for success in their recovery while they are with us and when they go home,” Thomas said.

“Since I’ve been here, it changed my life for the better. It’s going to change my activities once I go home, and I’ll be a little more aware of things I can and can’t do,” said patient Anthony Dobrosielski, who is receiving occupational therapy following a fall.

Michael Rominger works on standing tolerance during routine tasks such as hair-brushing with guidance from patient care technician Carmela Cintron.

To prepare for the transition to home, families and caregivers are encouraged to take part in patient care at the Center. They are invited to the Center’s gym to participate in therapy and receive hands-on caregiver education about therapy and medication. Center staff also help caregivers navigate at-home needs, such as getting a hospital bed or adaptive technology delivered.

“All the skills you learn here, they they make sure it matches what you have at home,” said David Gaines, a patient at the Center following a below-the-knee amputation.

Occupational therapist Rachel Titus, OTR/L, works with David Gaines on wrapping with a compression bandage following a below-the-knee amputation to provide shaping and management of swelling in anticipation of prosthetic use.

“My favorite moment as a therapist is to get the patient back to what they want to be and what they need to be doing in their home setting as well as outside of the home because everyday life goes beyond just what you’re doing in the house,” said occupational therapist Rachel Titus, OTR/L.

As part of her rehabilitation after a stroke, Tamika Buford practices retrieving items in a grocery shopping simulation in the Center’s “market” with occupational therapist Jordan Goddard, OTD, OTR/L, CSRS.

Next Steps for Rehabilitation at ChristianaCare

The Center is increasing access to high-quality rehabilitation care in Delaware. This year, the Center expanded its capacity to 36 beds enabling the care of an additional 216 patients annually. Patients choose to come to the ChristianaCare Center for Rehabilitation, Thomas said, and most arrive from acute care settings. In 2028, ChristianaCare will open a new freestanding acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Newark, Delaware.

“This transformative investment will significantly expand access to specialized rehabilitation care across Delaware,” said Thomas.

Mary Dougherty practices walking on uneven outdoor surfaces on a therapy path at Wilmington Hospital with physical therapist Luiza Maxwell, DPT, following a right hip and lower leg fracture.

Developed in partnership with Delaware-based Onix Group, the $75 million, 92,000-square-foot facility at 140 Red Mill Road will feature 73 beds and is expected to enable ChristianaCare to care for approximately 1,000 additional patients annually with complex rehabilitation needs. The project is part of ChristianaCare’s broader $865 million investment in Delaware and reflects its commitment to delivering more high-quality care closer to home.

Building on more than 30 years of nationally recognized rehabilitation services, the new hospital will offer comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation, including physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as specialized programs for traumatic brain injuries and other complex conditions. Equipped with advanced technology, modern diagnostics and patient-centered design, the facility will nearly double ChristianaCare’s current rehabilitation capacity.