Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital
Bradford
Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital is an acute rehabilitation hospital that is located in the Merrimack Valley to conveniently serve patients in the greater Boston MA area and throughout New England.
Our team of interdisciplinary professionals provides inpatient + outpatient rehabilitation, transitional care, and home health care services. Pick from the services to find out why we should be your only choice for rehabilitation in Merrimack Valley!
We are proud to be certified by The Joint Commission for both our Pulmonary and Stroke Programs.

Comprehensive healthcare services since 1982
We take great pride in our commitment to total patient care, professionalism, and respect, provided throughout the rehabilitation process, helping us restore, as fully as possible, the skills, confidence, and independence our patients need to return to a quality, satisfying life. We have helped thousands of patients return home after an injury or illness, which is illustrated by our superior clinical outcomes. Both our Pulmonary and Stroke programs are Joint Commission Certified.
Inpatient Rehabilitation
Here at Bradford, we are equipped to provide complex medical treatments and procedures to patients who are acutely ill, have multiple complications and those who require specialty care and continuous monitoring, within our 35-bed LTACH unit.
Our 25-bed IRF unit is able to manage patients who require a more intense level of rehabilitation, which consists of 3 hours per day, up to 7 days per week.
Both our Pulmonary and Stroke programs are Joint Commission Certified.
Our Inpatient Services
- TBI Program
- Stroke/CVA Program
- Amputation/Prosthetic/Orthotic Fitting
- Orthopedic
- Neurological
- Pulmonary/Ventilator/Tracheostomy Care
- CPAP/BIPAP
- Advanced Wound Care Management
- Whittier Way
- Whittier Aquatic
- SCI
- Cardiac
- Pain Management
- In-House Hemodialysis
- Telemetry
- PCA Pumps
- TPN/PPN
- Heparin Drip
- IV Antibiotics/IV Steroids
- Ostomy Care
- Post-surgical drainage tubes
- Enteral Nutrition
- PICC/Midline/Port-a-cath
Our Inpatient Programs
- Joint Commission Certified Inpatient Pulmonary Program
- Wound Care Program
- Acute Rehabilitation
- Long Term Acute Rehabilitation
Inpatient Pulmonary Program
Joint Commission Certified
Our Mission:
Provide interdisciplinary, individually tailored, comprehensive, and efficient care to patients with chronic pulmonary disease.
Assist patients and families in managing their disease or condition.
Promote active participation in decisions and lifestyle changes for success in self-management regimens.
Our Vision:
To continue to be accredited as a center of excellence for pulmonary rehabilitation care.
Outpatient Rehabilitation
Choose Whittier outpatient for your one to one therapy, our specialty clinics, and our aquatics program. Whether you are referred to us from your primary care physician, our inpatient rehab hospital, or home health agency, the outpatient center at Whittier can assist you with your therapy or medical needs.
Our Pulmonary and Stroke programs are both Joint Commission Certified.
OUR OUTPATIENT SERVICES
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech and Language
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Pediatrics
- Neuro Day Rehabilitation
- Aquatic Therapy
- Driving Evaluations
Our Outpatient Specialized Clinics
- Wound Clinic
- Memory Clinic
- Prosthetic/Orthotic Clinic
- Seating Clinic
- Podiatry Clinic
Our Outpatient Programs
- Neuro Day Rehabilitation Program
- Joint Commission Certified Outpatient Stroke Program
- Wound Care Program
Outpatient Stroke Program
Joint Commission Certified
Our Mission:
Throughout the comprehensive stroke program, Whittier will partner with our community, local healthcare providers, area hospitals, and insurers to provide a high-quality program for stroke survivors to maximize recovery.
Our Vision:
To enhance the lives of people who have experienced a stroke through our culture of hope and compassion. We will lead the community in providing superior stroke rehabilitation.
Specialty Care Designed for Medically Complex Patients
Our patients (elderly, disabled or acute cases of any age) are admitted following treatment in the traditional acute care hospital when they no longer require intensive diagnostic procedures. The care provided is more individualized and resource-intensive than what is provided in a sub-acute or skilled nursing facility.
Individualized Care Plans
Specialized Therapist Teams
Day to Day Function Re-Training
Joint Commission Deemed Status
The Joint Commission is a national accrediting organization that has been recognized by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), through a process called “deeming,” as having standards and a survey process that meet or exceed Medicare’s requirements.
What does “deemed” status mean?
Deemed status is a prestigious distinction that signifies that the hospital not only meets but exceeds standards set forth by both Joint Commission and CMS.
Our Pulmonary Program and Outpatient Stroke Programs are both certified under the Joint Commission Disease Specific certification standards.

Patient Testimonials
We can’t say enough about the physical therapists and Whittier they made it possible for my husband to walk again.
Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Bradford Patient Testimonial⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We can't say enough about the physical therapists and Whittier they made it possible for my husband to walk again. Climb up stairs again and build muscle. After a very bad fall and surgery it's been...
Whittier rehab is the best there is, best there was, and best there ever will be. Thank you Kim, Jolene, Dr. Liguori, and Keith Cornell. They know their stuff.
Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Bradford Patient Testimonial⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Whittier rehab is very respectable. I know some of the doctors, some of the people from rehab. My experience was awesome. I liked all of the people that helped me. They were very knowledgeable, very...
As a Charter member of the Physical Therapy services, I can strongly recommend the Whittier Outpatient staff, both on the desks and the therapists.
Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Bradford Patient Testimonial⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ As a Charter member of the Physical Therapy services, I can strongly recommend the Whittier Outpatient staff, both on the desks and the therapists. They are all caring and patient as well as very...
Every aspect of my husband’s recovery was addressed, treated, and resolved to our great satisfaction. We can’t say enough positive things about Whittier Rehab!
Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Bradford Patient Testimonial⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My husband recuperated here after a recent surgery. From the moment he arrived, he and I felt reassured that he was in very good hands. The staff was professional, attentive, and kind. Therapists,...
Each staff member was willing to give me their time to update me on my dad’s progress and answer all my questions or concerns.
Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Bradford Patient Testimonial⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My dad was inpatient at Whittier Rehab in Bradford... He expressed he was very pleased with his care during his stay. I am a daughter who lives out of state and relied on phone calls to check in on...
Whittier Rehab is absolutely wonderful! The care my mother received was exceptional.
Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Bradford Patient Testimonial⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Whittier Rehab is absolutely wonderful! The care my mother received was exceptional. The staff was absolutely wonderful and made us feel like family. Her nurses, physical therapist, occupational...
Our Team
Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital-Bradford is run by Administrator Bob Iannaco, Medical Director Dr. Paul Liguori and Director of Nursing Services Heather Grondin.
Bob Iannaco, Administrator
Whittier Health Network Bradford Rehabilitation HospitalBob Iannaco, PT Administrator Specialty: Rehabilitation Bob has been the Administrator of Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital in Bradford since May 1998. Before becoming the Administrator, Bob was the Director of...
Dr. Paul Liguori, MD, MRM, Medical Director
Whittier Health Network Bradford Rehabilitation HospitalDr. Paul Liguori, MD, MRM Medical Director Dr. Liguori earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the State University of NY at Buffalo School of Medicine. He completed his residency in physical medicine and...
Heather Grondin, BSN, CCM, Director of Nursing Services
Whittier Health Network Bradford Rehabilitation HospitalHeather Grondin, BSN, CCM Director of Nursing Services Heather graduated with her AS in Nursing in 2007. She attended a Nurse Residency Program and specialized in Cardiac and Critical Care. In 2014 she earned...
Laurie Faust Lemire, OTR/L Director of Rehabilitation Services
Whittier Health Network Bradford Rehabilitation HospitalLaurie Faust Lemire, OTR/L Director of Rehabilitation Services Specialty: Therapy Ms. Lemire is a board registered and certified Occupational Therapist. She worked as the Pediatric Clinical Specialist/Clinic...
Elizabeth “Liza” Blondeau, MSN, PMHRN-BC, CCM, Director of Case Management
Whittier Health Network Bradford Rehabilitation HospitalElizabeth “Liza” Blondeau, MSN, PMHRN-BC, CCM Director of Case Management Liza is a board-certified psychiatric registered nurse and nationally-certified case manager who has been with Whittier since March 2023....
Essam Ansari, MD MPH, Director of Pulmonary Program
Whittier Health Network Bradford Rehabilitation HospitalEssam Ansari, MD, MPH Director of Pulmonary Program Bradford Rehabilitation Hospital, Haverhill, MA Specialty: Pulmonologist Dr. Ansari graduated from medical school with Honors in 1996, after which he started...
News + Updates
Barbara Kruschwitz, PT, DPT at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Bradford, with a Physical Therapist’s advice on climbing stairs safely
We asked Physical Therapist Barbara Kruschwitz for some advice about climbing stairs. Here's what she had to say. "Patients and residents often tell me how climbing stairs is ‘good exercise.’ The truth is, stairs aren't ‘good exercise.’ For even the fit and healthy,...
A yearlong journey of recovery, a wife who never gave up, and a Whittier doctor who took a chance on him: Gary Nihan rides again!
“Would like to send Dr. Tollman a video of myself cycling. As a patient last summer/ early fall Dr. Tollman knew my goal was to be able to ride again.” When we received this email from Gary and Marian Nihan, we knew we had to contact them to learn more about his...
Nursing students from the University of the Virgin Islands travel to Massachusetts for clinical rotations in a study abroad experience at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital-Bradford.
On Sunday March 19, a group of ten UVI nursing students and two professors from St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands boarded their flight bound for Haverhill, Massachusetts. For some of the students, it might have been their first trip to the Northeast; for others,...
Corporate Recruiter Tyler Soucy on building his skills and career path at Whittier Health Network.
Tyler Soucy is only 25 years old, but he’s already been a part of the Whittier Health Network for eight years! Originally from Rowley, Massachusetts, his career started in high school when he enrolled in Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School’s Healthcare...
Physical Therapist Cristian Jimenez, DPT, on working at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital-Bradford: “If you want to get a unique level of experience and work with a supportive team, then Whittier is the best place to work.”
We recently spoke with Physical Therapist Cristian Jimenez about his passion in working with older adults and why working with such a close team at Whittier makes a difference. How many years have you been at Whittier?I have been at Whittier for ten years, with seven...
Benjamin Kim, DPT, discusses his rewarding Physical Therapy career at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital-Bradford: “I get to be an educator AND a therapist – all the things that are important to me!”
Benjamin Kim, DPT, is a Physical Therapist at Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital-Bradford. We recently caught up with him about his career, and the rewards of working at Whittier. How many years have you been at Whittier?I started in 2005 as a rehab aide in the original...
Directions to Bradford Rehabilitation Hospital
From Route 495 N or S: Exit 106-R125 Ward Hill, Bradford onto Rt. 125 Connector. At the first set of lights turn left into the Ward Hill Business Park EAST, onto “Riverview Street, Ward Hill.” At the stop sign, proceed straight for 0.5 miles to 145 Ward Hill Avenue. Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital is on your left. Directions
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