Welcome to Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital
A message from our CEO
Welcome to Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital, an inpatient medical rehabilitation hospital for patients in Central Pennsylvania. This website offers important information about the rehabilitation experience at Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital. As you come to know us, we hope you will see the passion and dedication to care that underscores everything we do.
Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital includes two locations on both sides of the Susquehanna River. Our East Shore location, located at UPMC Community Osteopathic Hospital, has been serving patients since 2006. Our West Shore location, opened in 2025, provides leading-edge care on the fifth floor of UPMC West Shore Hospital.
Both locations offer the convenience and comfort of community-based care, along with the clinical expertise and national experience in medical rehabilitation that can best address your needs and goals.
Upon arrival, you will meet an interdisciplinary team of rehabilitation experts – physicians, nurses, therapists, case managers and other dedicated staff – who work collaboratively to provide the care, treatment and steady support that will guide your recovery.
Not only will you benefit from our compassionate care and proven treatments, but you will be able to enjoy the many amenities that should make your stay as comfortable as possible.
Most of all, you will find that what you can do will far exceed what you cannot; and we will work closely to help you overcome the medical, physical, cognitive and emotional challenges you face.
On behalf of the entire Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital team, thank you for trusting us with your care.
Sincerely,
Brett McChesney
Our mission, vision and values
Our Mission
The Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital is committed to providing an exceptional patient care experience that promotes healing and recovery in a compassionate environment.
Our Vision
To serve our communities as the premier provider of adult rehabilitation care, resulting in the highest level of independence for our patients.
Our Values
We deliver superior quality care in all that we do.
We treat others as they would like to be treated.
We are results-oriented and achieve our objectives.
We are team players.
We are resourceful in overcoming obstacles.
Our history
Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital opened in April 2006. The hospital was managed by Pinnacle Health until August 2014. At that time, Select Medical and Pinnacle Health entered into a joint venture (JV) agreement, with Select Medical assuming management of the hospital. Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital – West Shore began serving patients in April 2025.
About Helen M. Simpson
Mrs. Helen Mae Smith Simpson was born February 17, 1911 and died June 5, 2005 at the age of 94. Helen graduated from John Harris High School in Harrisburg and a few years later married Joseph T. Simpson. Together they had two children, Jerry and Joanne.
Mr. Simpson would eventually become President and Chairman of the Board at Harsco Corporation. Mrs. Simpson was a talented weaver, potter, silversmith and knitter and was instrumental in organizing the Craftsmen’s Guild of Harrisburg, which ultimately expanded into the statewide organization, The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. She had a lifelong interest in collecting American antiques - especially Pennsylvania primitive furniture and artifacts, all of which have been passed on to her family for their continuing enjoyment.
In 1965, Mrs. Simpson wrote a lighthearted booklet on her unique method of refinishing furniture entitled "Refinishing Helen's Way" which was sold to benefit the Special Activities Council of Republican Women and was so successful that a second printing had to be quickly ordered.
In the early 1960s, she was the only woman on the board of the Osteopathic Hospital and was responsible for the enormous job of coordinating the interior design of the entire 80,000-square-foot new Community General Osteopathic Hospital, which opened in 1970. Her innovative ideas included making the rooms and nurse’s stations cheerful by adding wallpaper, colored paint and window treatments. She accomplished this while also dealing with orthopedic surgery.
In 1971, Mrs. Simpson was selected to receive the third annual Distinguished Service Award from the Cosmopolitan Club of Harrisburg. One of her many charitable involvements throughout her life included serving as a long-time board member for Goodwill Industries. Although Mrs. Simpson was a very busy community volunteer throughout her life, her greatest passion was gardening. Over a period of some 40 years, she transformed her Colonial Park garden into a showplace.
Due to her extensive involvement with Community General Osteopathic Hospital over the years, the trustees of the Joseph T. and Helen M. Simpson Foundation were pleased to make a grant to Pinnacle Health Foundation and have the Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital named in her memory. The rehabilitation hospital is surely a facility that she would be proud to be connected with.