This hospital has
Joint Commission Accreditation
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 Encompass Health Rehabilitation Institute of Tucson, we are committed to helping you get back to what matters most. Located in Tucson, we are a leading provider of inpatient rehabilitation for stroke, brain injury, hip fracture and other complex neurological and orthopedic conditions.
When you choose Encompass Health Rehabilitation Institute of Tucson 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:
*We provide access to independent physicians.
Each patient’s recovery is different. At Encompass Health Rehabilitation Institute of Tucson, 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:
Our experienced neurorehabilitation team uses innovative technology combined with proven therapy techniques to help patients with brain injuries Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), Guillain-Barré syndrome, Lou Gehrig’s disease and other conditions that affect the brain and nervous system. Treatments can help with mobility, speech, swallowing, spasticity and cognitive function.
Advanced therapy is crucial to the recovery process after trauma injuries, hip fracture, joint replacement, amputation and other orthopedic injuries. Our clinicians develop care plans that improve mobility and overall function, reduce the risk of falls, educate on wound care and prosthesis and reduce pain so you can live your life to the fullest.
As leaders in stroke rehabilitation, we help patients adjust to and treat the mental and physical effects of stroke, with the goal of regaining their greatest level of independence. Our experts help identify your needs and improve complications commonly associated with stroke such as slurred speech, one-sided weakness, neuropathy, spasticity and loss of cognitive function.
Rehabilitation for spinal cord injury is complex and multifaceted. Our approach is powered by a team of highly skilled clinicians using adaptive techniques and therapies to meet the physical, cognitive and emotional needs of patients. In our specialized program, patients work toward a great level of function that may also include respiratory therapy and a bowel and bladder management program.
80 Beds
Nonsmoking
Telephones
Televisions
Pet friendly
Free WiFi
Interpreter services
Support groups
Tours available
Spanish translators available
Student observation hours
Volunteers
Complete a short form to have someone contact you regarding inpatient rehabilitation.
We deliver connected care and superior outcomes through our state-of-the-art inpatient rehabilitation hospital.
Our hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Disease-Specific Care Certification in stroke rehabilitation.
Our hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Disease-Specific Care Certification in brain injury rehabilitation.
Our hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Disease-Specific Care Certification in spinal cord.
Our hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Disease-Specific Care Certification in amputee rehabilitation.
Area Chief Executive Officer
Jeff brings more than 30 years of healthcare experience as the area CEO to both Encompass Health Rehabilitation Institute of Tucson (RIT) & Encompass Health Rehabilitation Institute of Northwest Tucson (SoAZ). Originally from New York, Jeff relocated with his family to Tucson from Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was CEO at Carolinas Specialty Hospital. Jeff received a master’s degree in business administration from Texas A&M at Corpus Christi. He received a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, in Brooklyn. Jeff is active with many community organizations in the Tucson area.
Medical Director
Dr. Amir Buljina is originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina where he graduated at medical school and completed residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation. He received his master’s and doctoral degree at the University of Sarajevo. Amir moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2001 and repeated a physical medicine and rehabilitation residency at the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo and worked as attending for one year. He then moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 2006 and worked as a physiatrist in an acute and subacute setting. He is board certified and a fellow of AAPMR. During his professional career, Amir worked as assistant and associate professor while attending medical school and physical therapy school, both in Bosnia and in America.
Dr. Buljina is an independent private practice physician.
Chief Nursing Officer
Marissa began her nursing career at Northwest Medical Center as a staff nurse. She later advanced to clinical nurse leader and managed the cardiovascular intensive care unit for three years. She received her Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) in 2004 from the University of Arizona and is currently enrolled at Grand Canyon University to obtain her MBA and MSN in nursing leadership. In her new role as chief nursing officer, Marissa can ensure staff provides quality, compassionate care.
Area Controller
Casey joined Encompass Health Northwest Tucson in September 2019. Prior to joining the Encompass Health team, Casey was an audit manager for a regional accounting firm specializing in the government and non-profit sectors. Casey holds a bachelor's and master's degree in accounting from the University of Arizona. He is a certified public accountant in the State of Arizona and holds memberships in the American Institute of CPAs and the Arizona Society of CPAs.
Director of Case Management
Mindy Flannery, LMSW, CCM, joined Encompass Health Rehabilitation Institute of Tucson in August 2016 as a case manager. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona and her master’s degree in social work from Arizona State University and has nearly 20 years of experience in child welfare, behavioral health crisis intervention and medical social work. Mindy is a trainer for Prevent Child Abuse Arizona, teaching detectives, county attorneys and child welfare professionals how to interview children who are suspected victims of abuse or neglect. In addition, she has served on the Arizona Juvenile Justice Commission since 2015.
Facilities Management Director
Scott joined Encompass Health Rehabilitation Institute of Tucson (RIT) in 2018 as the facilities management director. He is originally from Colorado but has spent most his life in Arizona and served his country in the U.S. Navy working in aviation maintenance. Prior to joining the RIT team, Scott spent four years as director of plant operations of another hospital. He is a member of ASHE and is currently a student at the University of Arizona, Eller College of Management.
Director of Quality and Risk
Lydia Martinez-Rivera began her career with Encompass Health Rehabilitation Institute of Tucson in 2003. She started as a certified nursing assistant and continued her education obtaining her RN in 2009. In 2012 she obtained her bachelor’s degree in nursing and her certification in Rehabilitation Nursing (CRRN) in 2015. She was promoted to infection preventionist in 2016 and promoted again to director of quality and risk management in August 2021. Lydia enjoys working for Encompass Health Tucson because she has seen the difference the hospital makes in patient’s lives.
Director of Pharmacy
Jane is a graduate of the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. She has worked in Tucson as a pharmacist since 1992. She has experience in many aspects of pharmacy including acute care, long-term care, oncology and compounding.
Director of Human Resources
Donna, a Tucson native, has more than 20 years of professional human resource management experience. Donna obtained her bachelor'a degree in human resource management from Park University and holds a certificate in human resources management from the University of Phoenix. She has held the Senior Professional Human Resource (SPHR) certification since 2009 and Society of Human Resources Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) since 2015. She is passionate about employee engagement and sharing her human resources knowledge.
Cardiology, Program Medical Director
Salvatore Tirrito is a Tucson cardiologist who has dedicated his career to promoting healthy lifestyles in the community. He was worked at Pima Heart Associates for 15 years and specializes in primary and secondary prevention of heart disease, advanced cardiovascular imaging and vascular medicine. Dr. Tirrito is board certified in cardiology, echocardiography and nuclear cardiology, and has completed a fellowship in integrative medicine. He also has a MBA at the Eller School of Management at the University of Arizona.
He graduated from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia in 1998 and is a Fulbright Scholar. He has spoken at dozens of conferences throughout the world and his research and work has been published on numerous occasions. He has also contributed to Triathlete Magazine and published a book: “So You Are Fat. Now What?,” a guide to losing weight and unlocking athletic potential.
Dr. Tirrito strongly feels that in order for us to really have a positive impact on our health, we need to take a more integrative approach to medicine. He is passionate about empowering people to break the cycle of chronic disease through appropriate lifestyle changes.
Dr. Tirrito is an independent private practice physician.
Director of Therapy Operations
Shane graduated from the University of Arizona in 2013 with a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. After graduating, he started his career as a speech-language pathologist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Tucson (RIT). He later progressed through the roles of senior speech-language pathologist, speech therapy team leader and therapy manager. He served as the chairperson for the hospital's stroke rehabilitation specialty certification team and is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist. Shane also developed the Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) program at RIT. He became the director of therapy operations in June 2021.
Area Business Development Director
Jenny joined Encompass Health in 2016 as a rehabilitation liaison prior to being named area business development director. She has 11 years of healthcare experience, holding a bachelor's degree in nursing from Northern Arizona University. Jenny furthered her expertise in rehabilitation earning her Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nursing certification in 2019. Jenny brings experience in referral development and relationship building