ACRMC Adds Speech Language Pathologist to Expand Local Rehab Services
Adams County Regional Medical Center announced the hiring of Michala Chaney M.S., CF SLP to its Rehabilitation Services team on Oct. 30, 2025. The addition brings in local expertise for stroke, brain injury, swallowing disorders and developmental delays, which may reduce travel and improve timely care for residents.
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Adams County Regional Medical Center has added a full time speech language pathologist to its Rehabilitation Services team, the hospital announced in a press release to the Buckeye Reporter on Oct. 30, 2025. Michala Chaney M.S., CF SLP will treat both inpatients and outpatients across the ACRMC service area, and her specialty areas include stroke, traumatic brain injury, dysphagia with modified barium swallow testing capability, post surgical cognitive and communication deficits, and developmental delays.
The hire is presented by ACRMC as part of an ongoing effort to expand local rehabilitation and specialty services so residents can access more care close to home. For patients recovering from stroke or head injury, timely speech and language therapy can influence long term outcomes in communication, cognition, and swallowing safety. The availability of modified barium swallow testing at ACRMC means diagnostic evaluation for swallowing difficulties may now be performed locally rather than requiring referral to larger regional centers.
Local access to these services has implications for patients, families, and the health system in Adams County. Rural residents often face long drives for specialty testing and therapy, logistical burdens for caregivers, and delays in starting rehabilitation. Having a full time speech language pathologist on staff supports continuity of care from inpatient stays to outpatient follow up, which can reduce complications such as malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia that are associated with untreated dysphagia. It also supports recovery after surgery when cognitive and communication support is needed.
The hire also reflects broader workforce and equity challenges in rural health care. Recruiting and retaining trained rehabilitation clinicians remains a priority for community hospitals seeking to provide comprehensive care without requiring travel to urban centers. Expanding local services addresses gaps in access for older adults, people with disabilities, and families of children with developmental delays who may otherwise confront transportation, work leave, and out of pocket expense barriers.
From a public health perspective, strengthening rehabilitation capacity contributes to community resilience. Early intervention after neurologic injury improves functional outcomes and can reduce long term dependence on more intensive services. For Adams County this means potential reductions in hospital readmissions and improved quality of life for residents who can receive specialized care within their community.
Residents interested in learning more about the new services at ACRMC can contact the hospital directly for information on referrals and scheduling. As community hospitals nationwide seek to expand specialty care, ACRMC’s new appointment will be watched locally as a step toward keeping more medical services within the county and improving equitable access to rehabilitation for all residents.
