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PLATTSBURGH — CVPH Medical Center will open its new rehab center on Tom Miller Road today.

Formerly the Sports, Orthopedic and Spine Therapy center, CVPH purchased the business last spring with plans to add to its other therapy facilities at PARC and deGrandpre Way but only recently received approval from the state to expand its therapy program.

"We will still maintain operations at deGrandpre Way, but we're reducing the number of patients at the PARC facility," said Christine Meister, director of Rehabilitation Services for CVPH.

The PARC building, located on New York Road, is also used as a public fitness center. Some rehab services will continue to be offered there, but the move will help the fitness center expand its services.

The Tom Miller Road facility, which includes nine private patient rooms, an exercise room with several types of rehab equipment and a spa-sized aquatic-therapy pool, will be used exclusively for physical-, occupational- and speech-therapy services.

"This facility will provide our patients with more privacy," said Cathie Passino, operation coordinator for rehab services. "Our goal is to give patients specific rehab therapies that they can take home and do on their own."

CVPH's Rehab Program utilizes computerized therapy programs for both inpatient and outpatient services, allowing for consistent treatment plans between the hospital and the three rehab centers, she added.

The new center has nine therapists as well as support staff, including Susan LaBarge, the former owner of Sports, Orthopedic and Spine Therapy, and members of her former staff.

"It's exciting to be able to provide more services to the community," said CVPH President Stephens Mundy. "If you look around at health systems today, you'll see that partnering between different groups is becoming an important option.

"I'm very glad they (Sports, Orthopedic and Spine Therapy) chose us as a partner to help us continue providing services at this fine facility."

The Tom Miller facility is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Physicians and the public can call 562-4616 for appointments.

E-mail Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com