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About Gaylord

A health system focused on medical rehabilitation

Gaylord’s reputation originates with Gaylord Hospital, where our work in spinal cord injury, stroke, TBI, pulmonary care, and complex medical care is well recognized.

Get to Know Gaylord

Gaylord serves a mix of local, regional, national, and international patients

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is a health system dedicated exclusively to medical rehabilitation. We provide inpatient and outpatient care for people at every point in their journey from illness or injury to the most advanced state of recovery they can achieve.

Our Mission, Vision, and Values

We strive to maximize functional independence for every level of care

Our Mission

To enhance health, maximize function and transform lives. 
Our Vision

To be a recognized and acknowledged destination for rehabilitation and complex medical care providing high quality, patient-centered, compassionate, team-based healing at every point in the journey from illness or injury to maximum recovery.
Our Values

Are clinical excellence, compassion, integrity, respect, accountability and a commitment to safety. 
Levels of Care

Inpatient, outpatient and residential offerings provide multiple levels of care for different types of patients

Inpatient: Medically Complex
Inpatient: Intensive Rehabilitation
Outpatient Services
Orthopedic and Sports Medicine PT
Residential Program
Where We Started

Gaylord's evolution and history

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare was founded in 1902 as a tuberculosis sanatorium and provided long-term treatment during the 50 years when the disease was endemic. Gaylord's expertise was recognized nationwide, becoming a destination for care. Many well-known individuals took advantage of its services, including playwright Eugene O'Neill. In the 1950s, Gaylord turned its expertise to other forms of rehabilitation, beginning with chronic pulmonary disorders, stroke, brain injury, and spinal cord injury. It quickly established itself as the state's premier long-term acute care hospital.

Our work today is focused on building and strengthening the organization. In 2020, we launched the Milne Institute for Healthcare Innovation, a hub for accelerating rehabilitative research in 2021. The Gaylord Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program — a joint program with the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Hartford Hospital — was created to educate the next generation of rehabilitation doctors in Connecticut and beyond. The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Academy was developed in 2022 as a new strategy to address the pressing need for nursing assistants at the bedside. Initiatives like these ensure Gaylord is at the forefront of rehabilitative care.

Take A Virtual Tour

A restorative, healing environment for our patients and families

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is located in Wallingford, Connecticut, on a beautiful 400-acre campus thoughtfully designed campus surrounding patients with a therapeutic experience that includes expansive green spaces, walking paths, sports and aquatic facilities, and even a greenhouse. All of our rooms are private and each room has a view of either the lush countryside or one of our landscaped courtyards.

98
%
Satisfied with therapy program
97
%
Percentage of workers’ comp inpatients discharged back to the community
99
%
Likelihood to recommend Traurig to others
Learn About DEBI

Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Inclusion Committee

The Diversity, Equity, Belonging and Inclusion Committee, also known as the DEBI Committee was created to provide education, insight, counsel, and assistance. Its diverse employee membership assures a wide variety of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences are shared with the organization. This collaboration helps Gaylord achieve its goal of providing compassionate, cross-cultural care while creating a work environment where all community members feel secure, welcomed, and heard.

DEBI logo_2022-3
Leadership

Meet our
President & CEO Sonja A. LaBarbera,
the senior management team,
and Board of Directors

Patient Stories

Watch our patient stories to learn about their recovery at Gaylord

Clinical Outcomes

Measuring Gaylord's Performance & Outcomes

Scope of Care

Accountability To Our Patients

Community Health Needs Assessment

Our Community Health Needs Assessments & Implementation Plans

Awards & Accreditations

Technology at Gaylord

We use the latest technology to advance your recovery

Where you choose to receive care can make all the difference. Gaylord offers an extraordinary range of technologies and patient services, all based on the latest research and best practices. 

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