Select Specialty Hospital South in Edgewood, FL

Pros

• The nurses are great and the overall staff are caring and professional.
• The kitchen staff are friendly and the food is awesome.
• The facility has a wonderful group of people who assist with anything you need.
• Jenifer Burgos and Guerlie provide exceptional, compassionate care.
• The therapy teams (physical, occupational, and respiratory) are outstanding and dedicated to recovery.
• The staff communicates well with families and keeps them informed.
• The facility is clean, well maintained, and comfortable.
• Case managers and administration are supportive and help coordinate care and resources.
• Alex Mercado and the cafeteria staff deliver delicious meals and great service.
• Patients often show meaningful improvements thanks to the skilled and caring team.

Cons

• The Director along with the case workers and administration are subpar.
• Talking to a doctor is nearly impossible unless they are present during rounds, which occur before visiting hours.
• Doctors repeatedly fail to respond to calls from families.
• The facility appears to engage in patient dumping by discharging patients to facilities not equipped to handle post-decannulation complications.
• A swallow test promised for weeks has not been performed, delaying discharge and placement.
• The care is described as neglectful and unsafe, with allegations of negligence.
• The nurses are horribly rude and unprofessional, and doctors are hard to find.
• There are no showers; patients receive sponge baths only.
• The place is described as a prison hospital and a last resort that pushes families to choose it.
• Some reviewers call it corrupt, accusing staff of lying and delaying transfers to milk Medicare.

Review

This Select Specialty Hospital South in Edgewood is best suited for patients who require intensive post‑acute rehabilitation, complex weaning from ventilatory support, and specialized care such as tracheostomy and wound management. The facility shines where therapy-driven recovery matters: respiratory, physical, and occupational therapy teams frequently drive meaningful gains, often translating to getting off ventilators, gaining mobility, and moving toward discharge. The kitchen and dining program consistently earn praise, with many reviews highlighting home-cooked style meals and attentive food service staff, a supportive backdrop that helps comfort families during stressful recoveries. In short, for families pursuing aggressive rehab and clear milestones toward independence, this is a credible option worth serious consideration.

Those who may want to consider alternatives are families prioritizing steady, proactive physician access, consistent communication, and transparent governance. Several reviews flag inconsistent doctor presence and difficult-to-reach physicians, with patients or families feeling they must chase clinicians for results or updates. Stories of rushed discharges, questionable transfer decisions, and alleged pressure to place patients in specific facilities raise red flags for those who require meticulous discharge planning and strict adherence to care plans. Language barriers and variable bedside attentiveness during night shifts also surface in some accounts, suggesting that not every family will experience the same degree of advocacy or clarity from leadership and frontline teams. For such families, a facility with more predictable medical oversight and fewer administrative ambiguities may be preferable.

The strongest pro‑arguments center on actionable clinical progress and tangible daily supports. Therapy departments are repeatedly praised for results, with patients leaving stronger, more independent, and sometimes off ventilators due to focused respiratory and mobility work. Food service is a standout plus, not merely in taste but in consistency and responsiveness to allergies or dietary needs, which helps with nutrition and overall morale. Front-desk and cafeteria staff frequently receive warm accolades for their accessibility and professionalism, contributing to a more humane, patient- and family-centered experience. Where governance aligns with clinical care, case managers who coordinate resources, attentive nurses, and therapists who follow patients through multiple stages, the facility delivers a compelling arc of recovery that many families value highly.

However, the most persistent concerns revolve around communication gaps and administrative friction. Multiple accounts describe physicians who appear intermittently, delays in test results, and a sense that information about prognosis or care plans is uneven across shifts. Patient safety anxieties also surface in anecdotes about delays in responding to alarms, inconsistent toileting and hygiene support, and, in a few instances, decisions that seem to reflect discharge pressure rather than patient readiness. Instances of perceived “dumping” or aggressive placement tactics, even if not universal, underscore the importance of a vigilant family advocate and clear, documented expectations before and during a stay. These threads can dampen otherwise strong clinical care and must be weighed carefully.

Practical decision guidance centers on proactive engagement and precise expectations. Families should request continuity of caregivers to preserve consistency, verify swallow tests and decannulation plans, and insist on timely, written updates about test results and progression. Checking in advance which clinicians are on duty and establishing preferred communication channels, whether calls to a case manager, the nurse manager, or a designated physician, reduces frustration. It helps to involve a patient advocate or social worker early, especially around discharge planning and transitions to a skilled nursing facility or home care. Tour the dining area and ask about meal customization and allergy accommodations to confirm that nutrition remains a sustaining strength of the stay.

In the end, Select Specialty Hospital South offers a high-potential track for rehabilitation and recovery when therapy teams operate with strong continuity and when administration aligns with clear, timely communication. The facility’s core strengths, robust therapy, competent nursing care in many shifts, and excellent nutrition, can produce impressive, tangible gains toward independence. Yet the shadow of inconsistent physician presence, mixed communication experiences, and aggressive discharge dynamics cannot be ignored. For families, the verdict is decisive: pursue this option if rehabilitation speed and comprehensive therapy are the priority, and prepare to actively manage communications and discharge planning. If unwavering physician access, flawless day‑to‑day updates, and rock‑solid governance are non-negotiable, explore alternatives with similar rehab intensity but steadier leadership.

This section of Edgewood, Florida, offers convenient access to a variety of healthcare services including primary care specialists, pediatric clinics, and specialty clinics such as the Colon & Rectal Clinic of Orlando and the Diabetes and Endocrine Center. Nearby pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens provide easy access to medications and medical supplies. For dining options, there are popular fast-food chains like Chick-Fil-A and McDonald's, as well as sit-down restaurants like Brio Italian Grille and The Cheesecake Factory. The area is also close to hospitals such as Orlando Regional Medical Center and transportation facilities like Fox Rent A Car Orlando for easy travel. Additionally, residents can enjoy a leisurely stroll at Lake Eola Park or catch a movie at EPIC Theatres at Lee Vista. Overall, this part of Edgewood offers a mix of healthcare options, dining choices, entertainment venues, and outdoor spaces for seniors looking for a vibrant community to live in.

Physicians

• Primary Care Specialists (1.7 miles)
• Southside health clinic (2 miles)
• Growing Together Pediatrics (2.4 miles)
• Colon & Rectal Clinic of Orlando (3.5 miles)
• Orlando Health Heart Institute (3.5 miles)
• Bliss Healthcare Services (3.6 miles)
• Diabetes and Endocrine Center of Orlando (6 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (3.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Chick-Fil-A (2.8 miles)
• McDonald's (2.9 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.6 miles)
• Shake Shack (3.6 miles)
• The Cheesecake Factory (3.8 miles)
• Brio Italian Grille (3.8 miles)
• Rock & Brews (3.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Orlando Regional Medical Center (3.3 miles)
• Orlando Health Medical Pavilon (3.7 miles)
• Florida Hospital Ginsburg Tower (6.7 miles)
• Florida Hospital Womens Center (6.7 miles)
• Florida Hospital- South Campus (6.8 miles)
• Florida Hospital (6.8 miles)

Transportation

• Fox Rent A Car Orlando (3.7 miles)
• Lyft Parking Lot (3.9 miles)
• The Club at MCO (4.5 miles)
• Airside 1 (4.5 miles)
• American Airlines Admirals Club Orlando (4.8 miles)
• Airside 3 (4.8 miles)
• United Club (4.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.9 miles)
• Starbucks (4.9 miles)
• Lineage Coffee Roasting (5.3 miles)
• Voodoo Doughnut (5.8 miles)
• Backlot Bistro (6.1 miles)
• Thunder Falls Terrace (6.3 miles)

Theaters

• EPIC Theatres at Lee Vista (4 miles)
• Regal Pointe Orlando (6.8 miles)

Parks

• Lake Eola Park (4.7 miles)