Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, one of the nation’s leading hospitals for rehabilitative medicine, is beginning a $418 million state-of-the-art renovation, known as Rancho Rising 2020, which will significantly enhance the care offered by the jewel of Los Angeles County’s healthcare system. The needed upgrade secures Rancho Los Amigos’ future as a top-ranked rehabilitation hospital with technologically advanced facilities, expansion of clinical and research initiatives and increased accessibility for patients and the community.

“Rancho Los Amigos supports patients in need of rehabilitative services with cutting edge technology and innovative medical practices,” said Supervisor Don Knabe of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “It has consistently been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s best hospitals. Imagine how much more we can accomplish on behalf of our patients after we expand patient facilities, upgrade aging buildings, improve Rancho’s technological readiness and beautify the campus.”  

The first phase of construction, scheduled for completion in 2016, will result in a new Wellness & Aquatic Therapy Center, including a new therapy pool, which will increase Rancho Los Amigos’ capacity to provide physical therapy. The second phase includes needed seismic safety and facility renovations, construction of a centralized entrance and refurbishment of the historic Harriman Building. The renovated structures will allow the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services facility to better meet safety, ADA and privacy requirements. Phase two will be completed by 2020.

Supervisor Knabe and Rancho Los Amigos CEO Jorge Orozco, PT invite the media and public to the Rancho Rising 2020 groundbreaking ceremony, which will take place on August 19, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. 

Supervisor Knabe, along with the Department of Health Services and Chief Executive Officer, is also advocating federal legislation to expand the partnership between LA County and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide health care to veterans Rancho Los Amigos and other non-VA facilities. H.R. 4810 and H.R. 3230 are currently pending in the U.S. Congress. The bills would provide quicker access to care for veterans who experience long wait-times at VA facilities and would allow veterans to choose non-VA medical facilities and have access to services closer to their homes. 

“The demands on Rancho will be increasing as more veterans are referred to this amazing hospital,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “We must expand our state-of-the-art facilities so that our clinicians can continue to provide outstanding care for people with a life-altering illness, injury or disability, including our national heroes who have suffered casualties serving their country,” Supervisor Knabe said. “This groundbreaking will throw a spotlight on the pioneering work that has been accomplished at Rancho for more than 125 years. The campus upgrade and enhanced technology will provide the means and infrastructure for Rancho staff to continue changing lives.”

In addition to H.R. 4810 and H.R. 3230, another congressional bill is pending in Congress (Preserving Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act of 2015, H.R. 2292) that would designate Rancho Los Amigos a Rehabilitation Innovation Center, highlighting the unique role played by Rancho and other facilities in the provision of quality rehabilitative care and advancing the field of rehabilitation medicine. If the bill passes, the new facilities will complement this new status for Rancho Los Amigos, which would qualify it for higher Medicare payments to cover additional costs for complex Medicare patient care, research, and training that currently takes place at the county hospital.

The general contractor is McCarthy Building Company, and Taylor Design is the architect of record. SmithGroup JJR is the designer/planner. The hospital will remain open and fully functional during the 5-year construction process, all of which will take place on the 48-acre northern portion of Rancho Los Amigos’ Downey location.

“These necessary updates will advance our mission to restore health, rebuild life and revitalize hope for all of our patients,” said Orozco. “Amazing things happen at Rancho every day and the new campus will be clear evidence that we are leading the rehabilitation field with our remarkable patient care and research.”

Rancho Los Amigos is the only Los Angeles County Department of Health Services hospital that provides specialized care for persons with disabilities, including spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, orthopedic disabilities, strokes, neurological disorders and physical and developmental disorders. Rancho Los Amigos cares for 4,000 inpatients and services 71,000 outpatient visits each year.

The Rancho Rising 2020 telephone hotline will be available for questions and comments in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the duration of the construction, and can be accessed by calling 562-219-4771.