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Welcome to our hospital

At RUSK Rehabilitation Hospital, an affiliation of Encompass Health and MU Health Care, we are committed to helping you regain independence after a life-changing illness or injury. Located in Columbia and serving rural and urban communities across Missouri, we are a leading provider of inpatient rehabilitation for stroke, brain injury, hip fracture and other complex neurological and orthopedic conditions.

Using clinical collaboration and advanced technologies, we provide a personalized care plan designed to meet your unique needs and help you achieve your goals.

Our inpatient rehabilitation hospital uses an interdisciplinary team approach that includes physical, speech and occupational therapists, rehabilitation physicians, rehabilitation nurses, case managers, dietitians and more, combined with our advanced technology and expertise, to help you achieve your goals. You will receive at least three hours of therapy five days per week while under the constant care of registered nurses, many of whom specialize in rehabilitation, and frequent independent private practice physician* visits.

Rehabilitation is covered in full or part by most health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. Our hospital has contracts with most major insurance companies and is willing to negotiate with other companies, as needed.

*The hospital provides access to independent physicians.

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Careers

What to expect

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

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Superior amenities at our hospitals

60 Beds

Televisions

Telephones

Free WiFi

Courtyard

Pet friendly

Interpreter services

Spanish translators available

Tours available

Support groups

Volunteers

Student observation hours

See our hospital

We proudly display our Gold Seal of Approval™

Amputee Rehabilitation

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

Brain Injury Rehabilitation

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

Hip Fracture Rehabilitation

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

Spinal Cord Rehabilitation

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

Stroke Rehabilitation

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

2021 Stroke Center of Excellence winner

The Stroke Center of Excellence award is part of Encompass Health’s internal recognition program to highlight accomplishments within our rehabilitation hospitals. It is achieved through a dedication, hard work and superior patient outcomes. To meet strict certification criteria, hospitals must provide high quality services, and the program must meet The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and hold The Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification in Stroke Rehabilitation to qualify. 

Take a virtual tour

The following region contains a Google 3D virtual tour feature that allows a user to view the Encompass Health facility. To assist screen reader users in understanding what is presented in the 3D virtual tour, each image view is independently described within lists that can be found under each linked heading.

Please click on the arrows to navigate through the hallways on each floor. Use the "L" options on the right-hand side of the tour window below to navigate through different areas/floors of the hospital for a full virtual tour. See a key to "L" areas below.

  • Hospital sign in parking lot.
  • Driveway patient accessible entrance leading to sliding front doors.
  • Sliding doors leading to reception desk and seating area.
  • Patient seating available on both sides of entrance doors.
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  • Driveway patient accessible entrance leading to sliding front doors.
  • Sliding doors leading to reception desk and seating area.
  • Patient seating available on both sides of entrance doors.
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  • Courtyard surrounded by outside of hospital and trees.
  • Multiple raised flower beds.
  • Benches for seating and dining.
  • Staircase with railing.
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  • Large tables and chairs for dining.
  • Small round tables and chairs for dining.
  • Television and artwork on walls.
  • Vending machines for drinks and snacks.
  • Hot and cold buffet style food bars.
  • Fountain drink and hot drink machines available in cafeteria.
  • Station with plasticware, straws and napkins.
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  • Door leading to REAL Therapy gym.
  • REAL Therapy gym which includes ATM, grocery shopping set up with shelves, reach ins, and shopping carts.
  • Area set up to simulate yard and household repairs.
  • REAL Therapy gym patio dining space, countertop dining space, driving simulation and laundry mat area.
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  • Therapy room with various equipment and technology such as parallel bars.
  • Therapy beds line walls for individual therapy sessions.
  • Room divided in to two therapy spaces.
  • Windows lining wall.
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  • Therapy pool with two separate lanes and stair and railings to enter pool.
  • Curtained changing area with chair.
  • Various pool equipment lining walls.
  • Doors leading to other areas of the hospital.
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  • Single patient bed with nightstand and large window.
  • Desks with chairs and cork board.
  • Sink opposite of desk workspace.
  • Bathroom with toilet, shower and accessibility seats and door for privacy.
  • Doorway leading to hall.
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  • Room with two patient beds and nightstands with curtain divider and chair.
  • Wall lined with two dressers, two desktops for personal items.
  • Large windows on one wall.
  • Sink opposite of beds.
  • Bathroom with toilet, shower and accessibility seats and door for privacy.
  • Doorway leading to hall.

Hospital happenings

May is National Stroke Awareness Month! For the month of May Rusk will be highlighting our amazing staff and the important work we do here to help those who have had a stroke. At Rusk, Speech therapists work with stroke patients to improve their speech and language, swallowing and cognition. We help establish a mode of communication, and determine strategies for safe eating and communicating with team members about unique changes in cognition. Meet Hannah, she has been with Rusk for four years as a speech-language pathologist. She most enjoys working with stroke patients to help them be independent at home. We practice these skills at Rusk to help our patients get back to their daily lives and doing what they enjoy.

- Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital

National Stroke Awareness Month

Hospital happenings

April is Limb Loss Awareness Month and RUSK Rehabilitation Hospital is proud to support our amputee community through our excellent amputee rehabilitation program. Our multidisciplinary team meets the needs of all our amputees with execution in goals providing excellent outcomes helping them achieve their independence and return to the community. RUSK also provides rehabilitation services to those who have received a prosthetic through our specialized prosthetic gait training program. RUSK gets our patients up and moving getting them back to doing the things they love.

- Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital

Limb Loss Awareness Month

Hospital happenings

In honor of Occupational Therapy Month, RUSK Rehabilitation Hospital would like to recognize and celebrate our wonderful OTs!

- Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital

Occupational Therapy Month

Hospital happenings

Here at Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital, we prioritize the neuro-recovery of the upper extremity following stroke in order to allow the patient to re-engage in meaningful tasks. In this video, you can see the importance of wrist and finger extension when you are grasping for everyday items. Therapists are using an attended electrical stimulation unit to target the extensor muscle groups of the wrist and fingers in order to allow this patient to grasp and release a common item such as a cup. Completing this activity assists the body in transmitting the appropriate signals to the muscles to respond, which have been interrupted from an event like a stroke.

- Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital

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Here at Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital, we prioritize the neuro-recovery of the upper extremity following stroke in order to allow the patient to re-engage in meaningful tasks.

Hospital happenings

Congratulations to Dr. Burris for receiving the Distinguished Member Award from AAPMR!

- Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital, an affiliation of Encompass Health and MU Health Care,

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Dr. Burris

Hospital happenings

Congratulations Rebecca Funderburk, RN, CRRN, for being named our July employee of the month! Rebecca is a relief change nurse and expects to receive her BSN in October. She is a great asset to the Rock Hill team.

- Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital, an affiliation of Encompass Health and MU Health Care,

Rebecca Funderburk

Hospital happenings

Watch Joshua Bailey's story on how a car wreck lead to his leg being amputated and the major role Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital played in his recovery.

- Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital

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JoshuaBailey

Hospital happenings

People across the US and now in other countries are participating in Heart Hunters. Today Rusk patients put up hearts to send love and bring a smile to your face. On each heart, a patient put what means most to them today. Here’s what they said: "I spread love not germs", "I stood on Thursday!", "Going home!", "Be kinder to each other", "Support each other", "Our hearts are together", "We are apart but not alone", "Be a good friend", "Share the TP", "USA, United Stands America", "Support our troops", "Don't fight", "Share love", "Sweet thoughts", "God will provide" and "Heart full of love".

- Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital

Hearthunters

Tom Tisone
Tom Tisone, MBA, CMPE

Chief Executive Officer

Tom Tisone, MBA, CMPE, assumed the role of CEO at Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital in August 2020.

Tom Tisone, MBA, CMPE, assumed the role of CEO at Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital in August 2020. Prior to Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital, Tom served as the executive director of strategic initiatives at MU Health Care since 2018 and previously served as the organization’s director of network affiliations since 2014. Concurrently to both MU Health Care positions, he served as the executive director for the Health Network of Missouri, a regional collaborative comprised of five health systems. Earlier in his career, Tom held a variety of other health care leadership positions in both the public and private sector, including with MU Health Care and McKesson Specialty Health-U.S. Oncology Network. He is an MU alumnus, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, and he also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from William Woods University in Fulton. He is a Certified Medical Practice Executive through the American College of Medical Practice Executives, MGMA.

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Leia Asbury
Leia Asbury

Director of Quality and Risk Management

Leia joined Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital in March 2021.

Leia joined Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital in March 2021. She holds both a master’s degree in business administration, with an emphasis in healthcare administration and a bachelor’s degree in health science management. She is also a registered respiratory therapist. Leia has more than 22 years of healthcare experience. She has held a variety of leadership and clinical roles with Boone Hospital Center, Moberly Regional Medical Center and MU Health Care. Her clinical background, regulatory experience and Joint Commission background makes her a valued member of the Rusk leadership team.

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Linda Cockrell
Linda Cockrell, MSN, RN, CRRN

Chief Nursing Officer

Linda joined the nursing team at Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital in 2016 as an evening supervisor.

Linda joined the nursing team at Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital in 2016 as an evening supervisor. In 2017, she was promoted to nurse manager before assuming her current role as chief nursing officer. Linda has worked in the healthcare industry for more than 35 years, serving in a variety of leadership and bedside nursing roles. Linda received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Truman State University, and her master’s of science in nursing from University of Phoenix. She achieved the title of Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN®) in 2019.

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Norman Davis
Norman Davis

Controller

Norman joined Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital, a joint venture of Encompass Health and MU Health Care, in 2018 as the controller with 12 years of hospital accounting experience.

Norman joined Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital, a joint venture of Encompass Health and MU Health Care, in 2018 as the controller with 12 years of hospital accounting experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a master’s degree in business management with emphasis in accounting, and a master’s degree in sociology.

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David Fredericks
David Fredericks

Director Therapy Operations

David has spent his career working with a wide variety of diagnosis in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.

David Fredericks graduated in 2011 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center with his doctorate in physical therapy. He has spent his career working with a wide variety of diagnosis in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. David holds geriatric and neurological specialties with a specific interest in Parkinson’s disease. Prior to joining the RUSK Rehabilitation Hospital in 2019, David helped open two inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in California and Washington where he was the director of therapy operations.

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Monica Gooch
Monica Gooch, MSN, RN, CRRN

Business Development Director

Monica received her bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing in 2009 and her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2010.

Monica received her bachelor’s degree in communications and marketing in 2009 and her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2010. Monica joined Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital in June of 2011 and is a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse. Monica’s clinical background includes brain injury, stroke and spinal cord rehabilitation. In 2014, Monica received her master’s degree in executive nursing administration from the University of South Alabama. Monica enjoys helping patients enhance their quality of life.

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Gerald Hamel
Gerald Hamel

Director of Plant Operations

Gerald has more than 40 years of experience in the mechanical and maintenance field.

Gerald joined Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital as a maintenance mechanic in February 2014. He was promoted to senior mechanic in December 2018, and assumed the role of facilities management director in October 2020. Gerald has more than 10 years of experience in hospital maintenance, and more than 40 years of experience in the maintenance field. Gerald enjoys working as a team to ensure patients get the best possible care.

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Wendy Martin
WENDY PIERCE MARTIN, PharmD

Director of Pharmacy

Dr. Pierce joined Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital, a joint venture of Encompass Health and MU Health Care, in 2017 as the director of pharmacy.

Dr. Pierce joined Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital, a joint venture of Encompass Health and MU Health Care, in 2017 as the director of pharmacy. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy in 2016 from UMKC School of Pharmacy, and a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Missouri Columbia in 2004. In her role, focus is optimizing medication management and reducing poly-pharmacy to improve patients’ quality of life.

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Robin Prater
Robin Prater

Director of Human Resources

Robin joined Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital in 1997, when Rusk became a joint venture of Encompass Health and the University of Missouri.

Robin joined Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital in 1997, when Rusk became a joint venture of Encompass Health and the University of Missouri. She earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from Columbia College and has worked in the Columbia, MO healthcare community for more than 25 years.

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Amy Terzopoulos
Amy Terzopoulos, LPN, MSW, LCSW

Director of Case Management

Amy joined Rusk in 2011 as director of case management. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Stephens College and her master’s in Social Work from the University of Missouri Columbia.

Amy joined Rusk in 2011 as director of case management. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Stephens College and her master’s in Social Work from the University of Missouri Columbia. She comes to Rusk with six years of acute care case management experience. Amy’s enthusiasm for her role at Rusk comes from working with a team of experts who are dedicated to making miracles happen.

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What to expect

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

Watch the videos

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Our hospital

We deliver connected care and superior outcomes through our state-of-the-art inpatient rehabilitation hospital.

Learn about our hospital