Today, Montefiore Health System and Burke Rehabilitation Hospital announced plans for a new strategic partnership that will expand the availability of advanced rehabilitation therapies in Westchester County and beyond. This new alliance will enhance the missions of both institutions by aligning each of their core strengths and creating a collaboration that will enhance patient experiences and results. 

"Montefiore and Burke Rehabilitation Hospital represent two of the most exceptional physical medicine and rehabilitation programs in the tri-state area,” said Steven M. Safyer, M.D., president and CEO of Montefiore Health System. “Many of our patients have already experienced restored independence as a result of Burke and Montefiore providers working closely to enhance mobility and overcome even the most difficult obstacles. As we build on each other’s expertise in rehabilitative care, I believe the future is bright for residents of Westchester and the Hudson Valley who look to overcome existing physical limitations and live their lives to the fullest.” 

Montefiore and Burke have formally signed a letter of intent and filed a certificate of need. Pending New York State Regulatory approval, the agreement would establish Burke as a hub in Westchester for acute, comprehensive rehabilitative care.

“This new partnership will allow Burke to offer its established, high quality medical rehabilitation to more patients, to help improve their outcomes, while collaborating with an organization that supports the Burke mission,” said Mary Beth Walsh, M.D., chief executive officer and executive medical director at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. “We look forward to working closely with Montefiore on providing new services for patients today, and to developing new training opportunities for educating the rehabilitative experts of tomorrow.”                                   

Burke, which specializes in neurological, orthopedic and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, will continue to operate as an inpatient rehabilitation hospital under the Burke brand, as well as operate its outpatient clinics and programs throughout Westchester County, the Bronx and the Hudson Valley. 

Burke Medical Research Institute will remain independent of the Montefiore Health System, but will continue to work closely with Burke Rehabilitation Hospital to develop new therapeutic approaches for a host of impairments that cause disability.

The partnership will allow the combination of the complementary strengths of both institutions to create new rehabilitative care models which will further world-class provider education and advance the role of rehabilitation medicine in the team-based care model advanced by Montefiore. 

Montefiore is responsible for the quality of care of more than 400,000 lives throughout the Bronx, Westchester and Northern Manhattan, and plans to continue to expand this approach to better serve residents of Westchester and throughout the Hudson Valley. The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Montefiore, consistently ranked as one of the best rehabilitation training programs by U.S. News & World Report, is one of the largest and well-regarded in the region, particularly in the areas of interventional pain, sports medicine, and pediatric services. Last year, more than 10,000 Montefiore patients utilized highly individualized treatment plans to maximize their mobility and agility.