In a bold move meant to advance the care and services provided to the disability community, Courage Center and Allina Health announced today that their boards of directors have approved a proposed merger between the Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute and Courage Center. The integration of these longstanding pillars of the health care rehabilitation community will create a leading, integrated service for individuals and families dealing with disabilities. The organizations will immediately pursue integration planning which should culminate in an official merger sometime in the spring of 2013.
Sister Kenny and the Courage Center have long histories of advocating for the health and well-being of people with disabilities. The partnership will allow full integration of the two organizations with individuals and families benefitting from streamlined, coordinated services. This will be a uniquely comprehensive continuum of care including inpatient, outpatient and community-based rehabilitation services designed to keep people healthy and independent. Courage Center's clinical programs will merge with those of Sister Kenny, and the organizations will look for opportunities to integrate clinical care, community-based services, research, innovation, public policy and advocacy.
"We are thrilled about what the coordinated strengths of our organizations will mean to the community," said Penny Wheeler, MD, chief clinical officer of Allina Health. "By combining the two, we blend the clinical care expertise of Sister Kenny with the exceptional programming, advocacy and community programs of Courage Center. In doing so, we can coordinate care, improve health and positively affect the lives of people with disabilities."