Inpatient Admissions

At Kessler Institute, we've made the admissions process as simple as possible for our patients, their families, and referral sources, including physicians, case managers and insurance or managed care companies.

Our goal is to enable patients to begin their rehabilitation as soon as they are medically stable and able to participate in our highly specialized programs of care.

Referring A Patient

Kessler nurse liaisons visit area hospitals daily to meet with patients and families to discuss admission and help secure the necessary medical approval. A patient and/or family member can also make their request to come to Kessler directly through their physician, discharge planner or insurance case manager. They simply need to provide Kessler with copies of the following documentation for medical review:

• Patient History and Physical
• Physician and Nurses Notes
• Occupational and Physical Therapy Notes
• Medication Record
• Lab Reports
• Face Sheet

This information should be faxed to the Admissions Office at our West Orange, Saddle Brook or Chester campus, depending on which location is most appropriate for the patient. A Kessler physician will review each case and approve admission based on the patient's medical history, the ability to participate in three hours of therapy daily and individual rehabilitation goals.

Click here to learn more about admission to Kessler's Outpatient programs.

Insurance & Billing

Kessler participates with Medicare and Medicaid and most insurance, worker's compensation and managed care plans. We recommend that you speak with your carrier or employer if you have any questions about your policy or coverage. We also request that the patient brings his or her insurance cards upon admission to ensure the accuracy of information for billing purposes.

Click here to learn more about our billing policies.

Admission Locations

Depending on the nature of their injury or illness and their specific rehabilitation goals, patients will be admitted to the appropriate Kessler Center of Excellence:

• Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
• Brain Injury Rehabilitation
• Stroke Rehabilitation
• Amputee Rehabilitation
• Neuro Rehabilitation
• Orthopedic & Functional Recovery

To facilitate the admissions process, we work closely with the referring hospital to coordinate the transfer tone of Kessler's three campuses. Depending on individual needs and bed availability, patients will be assigned to a comfortably appointed private or semi-private room.

Beginning the Rehabilitation Journey

Our Admissions team is here to do everything we can to get you settled in quickly and comfortably. There will be a number of forms to be signed and information to be shared, including the necessary consent for our physicians, nurses, therapists and other rehabilitation professionals to begin treatment. Having a family member and/or legal guardian accompany the patient will help to expedite the process. We also require that patients provide copies of insurance information so that we may confirm coverage and billing addresses. Please be sure to bring these important items:

• Insurance Cards
• Advanced Directive (Living Will)
• Power of Attorney (if applicable)

Patients will also need to bring several changes of clothes, including undergarments, shirts and slacks or warm-up suits, sneakers or rubber-soled shoes, and personal care items. A complete list can be found in our Patient and Family Guide which provides an overview of what to expect, how to prepare for your stay, visitation policies and other helpful information.

For More Information

For additional information about admission to Kessler, call us toll free at 888.KESSLER or contact: