Select Specialty Hospital - Oakland

10/28/2025

The team at Select Specialty Hospital – Orlando Central celebrated the ribbon cutting today for a new 31-bed critical illness recovery hospital with a 32-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit at 7450 Sand Lake Commons Boulevard in Orlando. The hospital features a continuum of care to help patients recovering from catastrophic illness or injury, offering both recovery and rehabilitative care in one convenient location.

Pictured from left to right: Select Specialty Hospital - Orlando Central Medical Director Dr. Sandhya Meesala; Select Specialty Hospital - Orlando Central Director of Business Development Angie Thompson; Select Specialty Hospital - Orlando Central CNO Miriam Olaciregui; Select Specialty Hospital - Orlando Central CEO Nelly Castroman; Select Medical Regional Vice President Jeff Alexander; Select Specialty Hospital - Orlando Central Medical Director Dr. Pradeep Vangala; Select Specialty Hospital - Orlando Central Associate Medical Director Mahmood Ali.

10/23/2025

Each of our specialty hospitals operates an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP), a coordinated effort between our pharmacy team, clinicians, environmental services and infection preventionists to stop the spread of infections caused by drug-resistant diseases. Our pharmacies ensure the safety and care of our patients and staff by managing and assessing all anti-microbial regimens.

10/22/2025

One year ago, Lauren Riemer was fighting for life, the result of complications from a rare and serious autoimmune disease. Lauren, then 32 and newly married, spent five months in five hospitals. For weeks, she was on two types of life support. When Lauren finally stabilized, she transitioned to Select Specialty Hospital - Milwaukee - West Allis for extended healing. Lauren arrived unable to breathe, eat, talk and walk but it didn’t take long for the Wisconsin woman to begin achieving those milestones – and many more.

Read Lauren's story here: https://bit.ly/4qlYWXt

10/22/2025

From fielding the first call about a new hospital location to welcoming the first patient through the door, our design, construction and facilities teams can be counted on to help create a healing environment.

Our design and construction teams oversee all hospital building projects—ensuring safety and efficiency in the engineering and ex*****on of plans. Once constructed, hospitals are turned over to our facilities teams who oversee day-to-day operations, including the physical building infrastructure, air quality and maintenance of all medical equipment.

Working together, these professionals contribute to a safe, comfortable and accessible setting for our patients, visitors and staff.

10/21/2025

When patients face the obstacles presented by a critical illness, respiratory therapists play an essential role in restoring comfort and quality of life. Their collaboration with other rehabilitation specialists ensures patients receive the most comprehensive care possible.

“Every injury is unique and can involve significant challenges,” says Lori Vessell, respiratory manager at Select Specialty Hospital – St. Louis. “As respiratory therapists, we work closely with physical and occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists to develop a well-rounded approach to each patient. We mobilize patients being supported by the ventilator to prevent wound development and can give them back their voice by attaching a speaking valve, alleviating fear and anxiety.”

As part of our critical care teams, respiratory therapists help give patients the best possible chance to move forward in recovery.

10/20/2025

Across our nationwide network of hospitals, infection preventionists work closely with our our health care facility teams and patients to implement needed steps to block infections and prevent them from spreading.

Strategies include water and air quality testing, remote surveillance for infection prevention, enforced personal protective equipment (PPE) usage and sanitation protocols for infection control.

During Health Care Quality Week, we recognize our infection preventionists for the key role they play in the safety and well-being of our patients, staff and the communities they serve.

10/19/2025

Our pharmacists and pharmacy technicians strive to administer the lowest effective dose of pain medication while ensuring that patients can participate in necessary activities. They coordinate these efforts alongside our multidisciplinary team as they discuss the needs of patients.

Each patient’s pain management is evaluated during clinical team meetings and multidisciplinary rounds to ensure adequate pain control. The team strives to balance pain management, cognitive function and therapy participation with the goal of minimizing medication dependence and enhancing patient outcomes.

10/17/2025

Physical therapy treats impairment and functional limitation through exercises, stretches and movements. Physical therapists are highly skilled medical professionals who diagnose and help individuals recover their health and get back to life.

10/15/2025

When a patient is admitted to one of our specialty hospitals, a case manager is present to help coordinate care while guiding families and caregivers throughout the recovery journey. Serving as a central point of communication, case managers support patients as they transition to the next level of care or when preparing to discharge.

10/13/2025

One of the case manager’s key responsibilities is looking around corners—determining a patient’s medical and social service needs after they leave the hospital. Our case managers coordinate meetings with patients, their families and the clinical team, explaining the various levels of care and verbally reviewing what to expect. Additionally, case managers can assist with ordering medical equipment that the patient needs for their return home.

09/27/2025

Michael Scott has a lot of faith in physical therapists. And he has a lot of faith in himself. When a motorcycle crash paralyzed his legs, it didn’t take long for the 29-year-old to move from acceptance to adapting to and overcoming his spinal cord injury. A physician-led team of physical, occupational and recreational therapists from HonorHealth Rehabilitation Hospital were there to help, with innovative technology and helping him develop strategies for everyday tasks like dressing himself.

To learn more about Select Medical’s network of hospitals, visit: https://www.selectmedical.com/about-us/

Lying in his hospital bed moments after a doctor gave him some of the worst news of his life, Michael Scott found solace.

09/15/2025

When he suddenly couldn’t speak at work, Cliff Bellenir’s colleagues knew something was wrong and called 911. Cliff, 49, suffered a ruptured aneurysm, causing bleeding in his brain and a severe stroke. Cliff survived a seven-hour surgery and five weeks in his first hospital. When he stabilized, his family turned to the physician-led, multidisciplinary team at Select Specialty Hospital – Oakland to help him relearn how to breathe, eat, walk and talk. “You can rest assured that your loved one will be taken care of here,” said his wife, Christal.

Read Cliff's story: https://bit.ly/4gonx9D

08/25/2025

Obrien Robertson collapsed from a massive heart attack. His wife, Denise, called 911. Obrien was shocked seven times at home and at the hospital before undergoing surgery to open two blockages. He then spent nine days on ECMO, a specialized life support machine. Obrien survived but could not breathe, eat, talk or walk. He and Denise turned to the physician-led, multidisciplinary team at Select Specialty Hospital – Oakland for continuing care that helped him regain his independence and get back home.

Read Obrien's story: https://bit.ly/41U59iL

03/27/2025

After a stroke, Angela Watson lost the ability to breathe, eat and move on her own. At Select Specialty Hospital – Oakland, she worked with an interdisciplinary care team to regain her strength and independence.

Read Angela's story: https://bit.ly/41LHodi

03/26/2025

Darlene Neese was still adjusting to retirement when the Michigan woman began experiencing shortness of breath. A trip to the emergency room revealed pneumonia and a tear in her colon. For five weeks, Darlene lay critically ill, connected to a ventilator and undergoing procedures to save her life. When she finally stabilized, she transitioned to Select Specialty Hospital – Oakland to relearn how to breathe, eat, walk and talk independently. Working hard every day in her therapy sessions, Darlene began achieving important milestones.

Read Darlene's story: https://bit.ly/43rF10p

02/27/2025

“Nana” Sharon Seidl was critically injured in a car accident, then developed complications that left her on a ventilator. She spent her 60th wedding anniversary in the ICU. Two months after the accident, Sharon transferred to Select Specialty Hospital – Oakland to begin her journey to relearn how to breathe, eat, walk and talk.

Read her story here: https://bit.ly/3QyI3IG

02/13/2025

William Lampkin, a 66-year-old auto parts delivery driver, faced severe complications following prostate cancer surgery, which left him bed-bound in an ICU for nearly a month. Once stable, his family transferred him to Select Specialty Hospital – Oakland. There, an interdisciplinary team of expert therapists, nurses and clinical staff implemented a personalized treatment plan that would help William take the first steps toward recovery.

Read William's story here: https://tinyurl.com/4mwfa9hb

11/08/2024

Julie Solomon, 73, fell and hit her head after returning home from a 10-day stay at the hospital. When she finally stabilized, Julie had become incredibly weak and had to rely on supplemental oxygen. After transferring to Select Specialty Hospital – Oakland, a physician-led team implemented a comprehensive treatment plan that would help her return to her vibrant lifestyle.

Read Julie's story here: https://bit.ly/40DNwEk

09/30/2024

Retiree Linda Marsh, who lives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was able to overcome pneumonia and influenza but the battle left her dependent on a ventilator and too weak to even raise her arms over her head. After three weeks at Select Specialty Hospital – Oakland, under the care of a physician-led, interdisciplinary team, Linda was stronger, breathing on her own, eating and talking again and ready for the next step in her recovery.

Read Linda's story here: https://bit.ly/4gLs3yM

05/22/2024

05/20/2024

When Carl "CJ" Bucalos, 41, suddenly experienced weakness and difficulty speaking he was taken by ambulance to the hospital where doctors discovered that he was bleeding into his brain. After emergency surgery to repair the issue, and time spent recuperating in the ICU, CJ was left relying on a ventilator to breathe and a tube to eat. He needed specialized care to begin the process of regaining his independence. For that, he was transferred to Select Specialty Hospital - Oakland.

Read CJ's story here: https://www.selectspecialtyhospitals.com/locations-and-tours/mi/pontiac/oakland/page-data/location-detail-tabs/success-stories/carl-bucalos-story/