Courage Center To Merge With Sister Kenny

In a statement made late last week, Golden Valley-based Courage Center announced that their organization will soon be merging with Allina Health's Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute.

Sister Kenny is an institute that specializes in various types of rehabilitation in eight different hospitals throughout Minnesota.

According to the statement, boards of directors for both Courage Center and Allina Health approved the merger, though it won't be complete until the spring of 2013.

“We are thrilled about what the coordinated strengths of our organizations will mean to the community,” Penny Wheeler, chief clinical officer of Allina Health, said in the statement. “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.”

Families and patients who currently seek treatment and rehabilitation at Courage Center will benefit from streamlined, coordinated services, according to the statement.

“As an advocate on behalf of people with disabilities, we recognize that one of the challenges our clients face is a fragmented system of rehabilitation services that is hard for both clients and providers to navigate. By partnering to create a more seamless experience, we will make it easier for our clients to get the care they need, which is key to improving outcomes,” Jan Malcolm, chief executive officer of Courage Center, said in the statement.