[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 131 (Monday, September 19, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 HONORING COVENANT MEDICAL CENTER'S REHABILITATION PROGRAM ON ITS 20TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary 
of the physical rehabilitation program at Covenant Medical Center in 
Waterloo, IA, I would like to congratulate this organization for their 
work in assisting persons who are disabled regain independent living 
skills. Their commitment has helped Iowans who have been disabled by 
illness or accident to achieve their highest possible physical and 
social functioning level.
  Established in 1974, Covenant's rehabilitation program has developed 
such that it is now fully accredited by the Joint Commission on 
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and by the Commission on 
Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities for comprehensive inpatient 
rehabilitation, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, and head injury 
rehabilitation. Covenant provides a complete continuum of 
rehabilitation services including prevention programs, acute and sub-
acute inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient treatment, day programs, 
outpatient evaluation clinics, and home-based treatment.
  With our emphasis on health care reform, and especially this week, 
National Rehabilitation Week, I would like to emphasize that Americans 
need rehabilitation now more than ever before. Each year more than 3 
million people become candidates for physical rehabilitation services 
due to automobile and industrial accidents; sports and recreational 
injuries; cardiac, stroke, or cancer episodes; or acts of violence and 
crime.
  In addition to improving the quality of life, rehabilitation is an 
investment in human capital with a significant return. According to the 
Health Insurance Association of America, more than $11 are saved for 
each dollar spent on rehabilitation. Rehabilitation also returns 
350,000 people to work yearly, saving $1 to $2 billion from Medicaid 
and disability insurance, and producing about $700 million in Federal 
and State tax revenues.
  As Covenant Medical Center's rehabilitation program celebrates its 
20th anniversary this year, we salute them for their professionalism 
and dedication to helping people turn their disabilities into 
capabilities.

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