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Welcome to Our Hospital

We know that choosing where to receive care after a life-changing illness or injury is an important decision for you and your loved ones. At Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, we are committed to helping you get back to what matters most. Located in Lexington, we are a leading provider of inpatient rehabilitation for stroke, brain injury, hip fracture and other complex neurological and orthopedic conditions.

When you choose Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital for your rehabilitation, you receive compassionate care from an expert team of physical, occupational and speech therapists; physicians; nurses; dietitians; pharmacists; and case managers who work together to create a plan to help you meet your unique goals.

At our hospital you will receive:

  • Three hours of therapy, five days per week
  • 24/7 nursing care, including nurses who specialize in rehabilitation
  • Frequent visits from a physician*

*We provide access to independent physicians.

Learn what to expect during inpatient rehabilitation

Better Rehabilitation Starts Here

Each patient’s recovery is different. At Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, our expert clinicians combine the latest technologies, real-world simulations and advanced therapies into a treatment plan that helps you achieve what’s important to you. Our specialties include but are not limited to:

 

 

Superior Amenities at Our Hospitals

158 Beds

Televisions

Telephones

Cafeteria

Free WiFi

Nonsmoking

Courtyard

Pet Friendly

Service Animals Allowed

Interpreter Services

Spanish Translators Available

Support Groups

Volunteers

Student Observation Hours

Onsite Dialysis

Bariatric Rooms

Family Lounge

Tours Available

Transportation Services

Therapy Animals

Outdoor Gardening

Pool

Parking

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What to Expect

Take a look at what happens during a stay at our hospital

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Get in Touch With Us

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Join Our Team

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Careers

Our Hospital's Accredited Programs Ensuring High-Quality Patient Care

Stroke Rehabilitation

Our stroke rehabilitation program has earned Disease-Specific Care Certification from The Joint Commission.

Amputee Rehabilitation

Our hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Disease-Specific Care Certification in amputee rehabilitation.

Spinal Cord Rehabilitation

Our hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Disease-Specific Care Certification in spinal cord.

Brain Injury Rehabilitation

Our hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Disease-Specific Care Certification in brain injury rehabilitation.

Leadership and Staff

Susan Hart
Susan Hart

Chief Executive Officer

Susan was named CEO of Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in March 2022.

Susan was named CEO of Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in March 2022 after having served in two previous positions with Encompass Health. She was the CEO of Wesley Rehabilitation Hospital and prior to that position was the associate administrator at MidAmerica Rehabilitation Hospital in the developing future CEO program. Susan has almost 20 years of clinical and leadership experience, including her role as director of inpatient acute, post-acute and outpatient rehabilitation services. She received a bachelor’s degree in health science, as well as a master’s degree in occupational therapy from Gannon University. Susan also holds a clinical doctorate in occupational therapy specializing in administration and practice management from Rocky Mountain University in Provo, Utah.

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Susan McDowell
Susan McDowell

Medical Director

Dr. Susan McDowell has been with Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital since 1994, and assumed the role of medical director in July 2018.

Dr. Susan McDowell has been with Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital since 1994, and assumed the role of medical director in July 2018. She earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed her physical medicine and rehabilitation residency at the University of Kentucky. She is board-certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with a subspecialty certificate in spinal cord injury medicine. Dr. McDowell is the Janet Galloway Carter Endowed Chairperson of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Kentucky. As the medical director of Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, she actively participates in the daily efforts to advance the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of rehabilitation care provided.

Dr. McDowell is an independent private practice physician.

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Gary Abrams
Gary Abrams

Controller

Gary brings more than 20 years of healthcare finance expertise to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital.

Gary brings more than 20 years of healthcare finance expertise to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and received a master’s degree in health administration from the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Kentucky. He holds membership with the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

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Emily Brock
Emily Brock

Director of Therapy

Emily Brock, the director of therapy, has been at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital for the past 17 years.

Emily Brock, the director of therapy, has been at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital for the past 17 years. She received both her bachelor’s degree and master's degree in occupational therapy from Eastern Kentucky University. She originally was hired as an occupational therapist on the general rehab unit. After 10 years working on this unit, she assumed the therapy manager position for 5 years before accepting the director of quality and risk management in May of 2018. She has recently accepted the position of director of therapy operations with a desire to lead the therapy teams to create an environment and culture that enables Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital to fulfill its mission by meeting or exceeding its goals; conveying the hospital mission to all therapy staff; facilitation for staff accountability for their performance and motivating staff to improve their performance.

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Chris A. Covington
Chris A. Covington, DO

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Associate Medical Director

Dr. Covington joined Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital as associate medical director in July 2018.

Dr. Covington joined Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital as associate medical director in July 2018. Dr. Covington is a graduate of Oklahoma State University Health Science Center, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1993 and completed residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Kentucky in 1997. He has been a Diplomat of the American Board of Physical Medical and Rehabilitation since 1998, and brings more than 20 years of board-certified experience in rehabilitation medicine to Lexington. Dr. Covington has served as a medical director in a variety of inpatient and outpatient venues from around the country.

Dr. Covington is an independent private practice physician.

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Theresa Crossley
Theresa Crossley

Chief Nursing Officer

Theresa brings 18 years’ experience in healthcare and 22 years of leadership experience to Cardinal Hill.

Theresa brings 18 years’ experience in healthcare and 22 years of leadership experience to Cardinal Hill. She has her master’s degree in nursing leadership (MSN) and is a certified nurse manager leader (CNML). Theresa is originally from Louisville, KY, but has lived in Georgetown, KY for the past 31 years.

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Kelli Eads
Kelli Eads

Business Development Director

Kelli Eads, business development director, has been at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital for the past 13 years.

Kelli Eads, business development director, has been at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital for the past 13 years. She received both her bachelor’s degree in health science and master's degree in physical therapy from the University of Kentucky. She was originally hired as a physical therapist in the outpatient department. After 10 years working as a staff therapist in outpatient, she assumed the outpatient therapy manager position for the past 3 years, prior to becoming the business development director in August 2018.

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Jennifer Forman
Jennifer Forman

Senior Director of Quality & Risk Management

Jennifer brings 25 years of nursing experience to Encompass Health’s Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital.

Jennifer brings 25 years of nursing experience to Encompass Health’s Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital. A Lexington native, she graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Doctorate of Nursing Practice in organizational leadership. She is certified in Nursing Professional Development (BC) and a Certified Nurse Manager Leader (CNML).

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Michelle Graybeal
Michelle Graybeal, PT, MBA, CBIS, CCM

Director of Case Management

Michelle brings more than 18 years of healthcare management experience to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital.

Michelle brings more than 18 years of healthcare management experience to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in business administration from Xavier University. She serves on the executive board of the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky and is a founding member of the Kentucky Appalachian Rural Rehabilitation Network and the Kentucky Congress for Spinal Cord Injury.

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Spencer Hirschi
J. Spencer Hirschi, PharmD, MPA

Director of Pharmacy

Spencer brings more than 10 years of pharmacy practice experience to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital.

Spencer brings more than 10 years of pharmacy practice experience to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, then earned both a Doctor of Pharmacy and a master’s in public administration from the University of Kentucky in 2019. After obtaining his pharmacist license, he worked for five years as a pharmacist at a local retail pharmacy, four years of which he was the pharmacy manager. He is originally from southern Illinois and has lived in Lexington for the past 10 years.

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Lyn Leshney
Lyn Leshney, MBA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR

Human Resources Director

Lyn brings more than 11 years of diverse human resources experience to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital.

Lyn brings more than 11 years of diverse human resources experience to Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital. She received her master’s degree from Midway University. Lyn is a member of both local and national Society of Human Resource Management chapters.

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