The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), a global leader in comprehensive rehabilitation care and home to the nation's largest center for research in rehabilitation medicine, has been recognized as the first and only specialty hospital in the nation to be ranked #1 for 20 consecutive years. 

This award-winning inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation care is available at Silver Cross Hospital and its centers in New Lenox and West Joliet.

The rankings, reported in the July 27th "Best Hospitals" issue of U.S. News & World Report, are based on a survey of board-certified physiatrists (physicians who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation).

In January 2010, Silver Cross Hospital and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), announced a strategic partnership that expands post-acute physical medicine and rehabilitation services in Will County and the southwest Chicagoland communities. The new partnership provides world-class rehabilitation care for a range of conditions for patients close to home.  Silver Cross is the only healthcare facility in the area with these services in partnership with RIC.  Together, Silver Cross and RIC provides rehabilitation services in inpatient and outpatient care settings.  Additionally, the RIC team provides physical therapy services for patients on the hospital’s medical and surgical floors.  This award-winning care will continue when Silver Cross opens its replacement hospital in February 2012.

The team at RIC-Silver Cross includes an accomplished team of health professionals led by New Lenox resident Mark Tracy, M.D.    Dr. Tracy oversees RIC-Silver Cross’s acute inpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation program at Silver Cross Hospital as well as at Silver Cross outpatient therapy facilities located at the hospital and at 250 E. Maple St. in New Lenox and at 1051 Essington Rd. in Joliet. The RIC-Silver Cross team also includes occupational and physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, dietitians, recreational and developmental therapists, audiologists and rehabilitation nurses.

“Through this unique partnership with Silver Cross, RIC is able to extend its mission of providing comprehensive rehabilitation care to a community with an aging population that will have an increasing need for these services,” said Joanne C. Smith, M.D., president and CEO, RIC.  “Together, our two institutions enables citizens with conditions such as stroke, cancer and brain injury to restore function, return abilities and ultimately, enhance the quality of their lives.”