History

Renewing Hope ~ Nurturing Independence

It was a remarkable concept in 1955, a hospital dedicated to the belief that hope, dignity and independence were possible for persons with disabilities. A hospital committed to providing compassionate, cost-effective solutions to some of society's most challenging and complicated medical problems. A hospital that would seek to create a true societal team working together in response to the needs of individual patients. A ground-breaking concept in 1955… it is an even more remarkable reality today.

Memorial Rehabilitation Foundation (MRF) was formed to focus community concern for the fate of persons with disabilities. After years of planning, and with the active support of area hospitals and physicians, the Foundation entered into a partnership with the County of Santa Barbara to create a pilot rehabilitation project in a unit of Santa Barbara General Hospital. On February 13, 1967, Memorial Rehabilitation Foundation Center opened its doors, with its founding medical director, Harris Meisel, MD, leading this innovative effort.

In 1978, when Santa Barbara General Hospital closed due to low patient numbers, concerned community leaders who had provided necessary philanthropic support to MRF once again decided the future of this hallmark rehabilitation effort. A freestanding, not-for-profit hospital opened its doors in January 1982 as Memorial Hospital of Santa Barbara (MHSB).

Looking to the future of healthcare and rehabilitation, Memorial Rehabilitation Foundation sought to honor the philanthropic community that supported it by officially changing its name to Rehabilitation Institute at Santa Barbara (RISB) in 1986. Plans were also begun at that time to relocate the hospital to a more suitable location. The goal was to have a new hospital that would be better equipped to serve the growing needs of the Central Coast for decades to come.

An attractive opportunity became available when Cottage Hospital responded positively to the suggestion that it sell Cottage Care Center to RISB. Located at 2415 De la Vina Street, Cottage Care Center was deemed the perfect location for relocating the Institute. The building was purchased and a major remodel with new construction was begun. RISB successfully settled into its new home in January of 2001, and became the first hospital in California to meet the state's stringent earthquake safety standards to 2030.

Today, Rehabilitation Institute at Santa Barbara operates out of a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Santa Barbara's medical community. The dream that spurred community volunteers into action almost fifty years ago continues to motivate the employees, volunteers and patients of RISB. Rehabilitation Institute at Santa Barbara is a lasting resource for everyone on the Central Coast.