March 30, 2015

March Construction Update

Photo: The front entry of B-500 as seen in March 2015
WBRC continues to watch the construction progress of B-500, the highly anticipated new home of the Polytruama and Blind Rehabilitation services on the Palo Alto VAPAHCS Campus.  Some of the building's features will include private bedrooms and bathrooms for inpatients, 3 large shared courtyards, a ‘green’ living roof, a greenhouse, and a bocce ball court.
Photo: View to the B-500 central courtyard from the 2nd floor breeze-way
At 174,000 square feet, this new facility is the largest consolidated rehabilitation center in the VA and will include 24 beds for the polytruama program, 32 beds for the blind rehabilitation program, and 12 beds for the polytruama transitional rehabilitation program. The center will also have an outpatient physical therapy/occupational therapy clinic, an outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic, and clinical programs for Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans.
Photo: The 'Bamboo' courtyard, one of three of the B-500 courtyards
Construction is anticipated to complete in Summer of 2015 with the building becoming operational in Winter of 2015.




March 3, 2015

WBRC Welcomes New Living Skills Instructor


Photo: Craig Eckhardt, New WBRC Living Skills Instructor
 
WBRC is proud to announce that Craig Eckhardt has accepted the position of WBRC Living Skills Instructor.  Mr. Eckhardt started on February 9, 2015.  Mr. Eckhardt is a recent transplant from New York City, where he completed his Master’s Degree in Vision Rehabilitation from Hunter College.  He is dually ACVREP certified in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy as well as Orientation and Mobility.  Mr. Eckhardt has worked in the blind rehabilitation field for many years, teaching at various residential and itinerant programs throughout the United States, including Colorado, Iowa and New York.  Welcome to the WBRC Team Craig!

WBRC Welcomes New Living Skills Instructor



Photo: Delaney Stein, New WBRC Living Skills Instructor

WBRC is proud to announce that Delaney Stein has accepted the position of WBRC Living Skills Instructor.  Ms. Stein started on February 9, 2015.  She completed her Master’s Degree in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy at Western Michigan University (WMU) in 2014.  She also completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology at WMU in 2012.  Ms. Stein is accredited by ACVREP as a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist.  She previously interned at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Chicago.  Welcome to the WBRC Team Delaney!