University of Maryland Rehabilitation Institute at Woodlawn in Baltimore: Post-Acute Care with UMB Clinical Partnership

The University of Maryland Rehabilitation Institute at Woodlawn is a 90-bed acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital in west Baltimore, affiliated with the University of Maryland Medical System. It provides short-term rehabilitation for patients recovering from stroke, spinal cord and traumatic brain injury, orthopedic surgery, and amputation, operating under the medical oversight of UMB clinicians. The facility accepts patients primarily through hospital referral following acute care discharge or direct physician referral, serving the broader Baltimore region rather than walk-in acute patients.

Services and medical focus

The institute operates five specialty programs: stroke recovery, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic rehabilitation, and amputation care. Each program follows evidence-based protocols specific to its diagnosis. Patients receive coordinated therapy delivered by the same interdisciplinary team throughout their stay, including physiatry (rehabilitation medicine physicians), physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, nurses, and social workers. The facility also houses a wound care center on-site.

Length of stay varies by condition and recovery rate. Stroke patients typically remain two to three weeks; spinal cord injuries often require four to six weeks or longer depending on severity and functional gains. The facility does not publish a rate card for inpatient stays. Charges are processed through Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, and fees depend on individual policy terms and length of stay. Patients or families should contact the admissions office to discuss expected costs with their insurance provider before or immediately after referral.

Comparison to other Baltimore-area rehabilitation options

The Rehabilitation Institute competes with HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Baltimore County (in Dundalk) and, for less intensive needs, outpatient programs at Johns Hopkins and UMMS community locations. The key difference is depth of specialty focus: the Woodlawn institute's five clinical tracks and UMB teaching-hospital affiliation attract patients with complex diagnoses (spinal cord injuries, multiple trauma) who benefit from concentrated expertise. HealthSouth Dundalk operates as a general acute rehab hospital and does not emphasize the same clinical subspecialties. Patients with uncomplicated orthopedic recovery or mild stroke may recover adequately and more economically through outpatient therapies in their home neighborhoods; patients requiring very intensive medical management (unstable cardiology, ventilator weaning) remain in acute hospitals such as UMB or Johns Hopkins rather than stepping down to rehab.

Woodlawn is appropriate for those discharged from an acute hospital who need daily medical monitoring, intensive therapy (two to three hours per day), and specialized training for complex diagnoses. It is not a setting for patients seeking maintenance therapy, long-term custodial care, or outpatient convenience.

Admission pathway and first stay

Admission almost always originates from discharge planning at a hospital (most commonly UMB, Johns Hopkins, Sinai). A physiatrist or case manager at the acute hospital coordinates referral; patients and families do not self-refer. The Woodlawn admissions team reviews medical records, recent imaging, and functional status to confirm the patient meets criteria (medical stability sufficient for intensive therapy, ability to tolerate two-plus hours of daily therapy). Patients are typically admitted within one to three business days of referral. Upon arrival, they undergo intake assessment by the interdisciplinary team, begin individualized therapy within hours or the following day, and participate in daily goal-setting conferences. The team reassesses progress weekly and discusses discharge planning from admission forward, targeting return home with outpatient follow-up or placement in a facility better suited to ongoing needs if significant disability persists.

Hours, location, and logistics

The institute is located at 827 Linden Avenue in the Woodlawn neighborhood. Visiting hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily (verify with the main line, 410-448-2500, as rehabilitation schedules sometimes adjust). Parking is available on-site. Patients arriving by medical transport (ambulance, wheelchair van) are admitted to a dedicated entrance. Private vehicle visitors can park in the main lot adjacent to the building. The facility does not operate an emergency department; patients experiencing acute medical deterioration are transferred to UMB.

The Rehabilitation Institute earned its place in Baltimore's medical landscape by consolidating high-acuity rehabilitation under one roof with faculty-level oversight, a model that yields measurable outcomes for spinal cord and brain injury recovery. For Baltimoreans navigating complex recovery after trauma or stroke, this specialization removes guesswork from referral and often shortens time to meaningful independence.