Easterseals Rehabilitation Center Receives CARF Gold Star Accreditation

WHEELING - Easterseals Rehabilitation Center in Wheeling recently received another three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.

The accreditation is not required for the center to operate, but is something it sought out to demonstrate the quality of the health care being offered there.

"We're really, really proud of getting a three-year accreditation. It's a true team effort," said CEO Eric Filberto on Thursday. "CARF is extremely important. It's an unbiased, unaffiliated agency that comes to our center and surveys everything that we do. They gave a gold star, a three-year accreditation, which is the best you can get."

He noted Easterseals of Wheeling is the only pediatric specialty rehabilitation center in West Virginia that has that accreditation.

"It's very meaningful to us. It's validating and it shows our commitment that we have to providing the best medical care that we can," he said. "It's a true test to the medical care, the therapists and our administrative people.

"In a sense, it's peer review. These are executives from health care centers from across the country who have a lot of experience in what we do."

Services for children and families include those related to autism, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, physical medicine and rehabilitation. It serves people in 17 counties in West Virginia and East Ohio at its five locations including the Wheeling office, along with in schools and homes.

Meanwhile, the center is continuing its year-round fundraising efforts so it can continue to offer free services to those in need. Last year the center gave away a record $415,000 in services. While about 60% of its clients have Medicaid and the center does take all health insurances; however, there are still some whose insurance does not cover all forms of care. And still others have higher insurance copays or deductibles.

Betsy Bethel McFarland, marketing director for Easterseals Rehabilitation Center in Wheeling, said those who would like to support the Wheeling center's mission of providing care for those in need can donate online at https://www.easterseals.com/wv/ or send checks to Easterseals Rehabilitation, 1305 National Road, Wheeling, WV 26003. For more information, call 304-242-1390.