Patients from Beersheva's Soroka Hospital moved to medical rehabilitation center following Iranian missile strike

When an Iranian ballistic missile hit Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva, no lives were lost thanks to a last-minute decision to evacuate patients. However, the aftermath presented significant challenges, as medical teams were forced to function amid the wreckage left by the strike.

Mercifully, the non-profit organization, ADI (עדי), had facilities nearby perfectly suited to provide care at southern Israel’s first-ever medical rehabilitation center, and opened their doors to Soroka patients. The staff at Soroka transferred all 30 of the rehabilitation patients to the Harvey and Gloria Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center at ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran in the Negev Desert. 

ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran is a state-of-the-art facility staffed by professionals trained to provide specialized care for individuals with disabilities and those undergoing rehabilitation.

Shai Pinker (42) from the town of Dimona, was one of the patients transferred to the rehabilitation center. The father of three was being treated in Soroka Hospital following a motorcycle accident that almost cost him his life. He then only narrowly escaped death again when a ballistic missile crashed into his hospital room just moments after he left.

At first, he could barely stand and was deeply traumatized – both physically and emotionally. Yet just days after beginning treatment at the Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center, Shai took his first steps. “Thanks to the ADI team here,” he emphasized.

The Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center, under the direction of Dr. Itzhak Ziv-Ner, specializes in treating patients after neurological events, orthopedic injuries, and other areas of rehabilitation. It includes inpatient departments, advanced treatment rooms, and medical support systems tailored to each patient's needs. 

Major-General (Res.) Doron Almog, founder and chairman of the center, explained why the center has been ideally situated to help in the current crisis.

"Three years ago, we opened the Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center at ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran to answer the urgent needs of the Negev's residents and provide them with a real solution for rehabilitative care close to home,” he said. “By design, our center was built to protect against all security threats and to continue operating even during times of emergency."

"This medical center is part of our contribution to Israel's national resilience and the medical security of the region. The recent conflict demonstrated how crucial partnerships between medical institutions can be during emergencies, and we remain committed to supporting each other and ensuring that every patient receives the best possible care," he added.

The center was established in June 2022 in partnership with the Israeli government, Jewish National Fund-USA, and international contributors to provide pioneering cutting-edge therapeutic and recovery services for anyone touched by disability.

The facility has delivered top-tier medical, rehabilitative, and emotional care to wounded soldiers and civilians affected by the war. Its critical services have garnered widespread recognition, particularly in light of the growing number of individuals suffering life-altering injuries.