What Stiftelsen Hernes Institutt does

Stiftelsen Hernes Institutt is a Norwegian non-profit foundation established in 1954 and headquartered in Hernes, Elverum, Norway. The institution specializes in work-oriented rehabilitation (arbeidsrettet rehabilitering), treating patients referred by general practitioners or the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) for complex rehabilitation needs arising from musculoskeletal disorders, mental health challenges, and lifestyle-related illnesses. With approximately 90 employees, Hernes operates as one of only two specialized institutions of its kind in Norway and holds CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accreditation valid through May 31, 2029.

The institution's core offering is the proprietary "Hernes-modellen," a multi-week, interdisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation program that combines medical treatment, physical training, work-related activities, and structured patient education. Treatment plans are individualized and delivered through an interdisciplinary team of physicians, psychologists, physiotherapists, and vocational specialists. Hernes has also adapted and piloted the Danish ADA+ workplace dialogue model in collaboration with Norway's National Quality and Competence Network for occupational rehabilitation, signaling intent to extend its methodology beyond the clinical setting into workplace-based interventions.

Hernes generates revenue almost exclusively through multi-year operational agreements with Helse Sør-Øst RHF, the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, which procures specialized rehabilitation services on behalf of the Norwegian state. Patients do not pay directly; the institution is reimbursed through public healthcare funding. The contractual structure provides revenue visibility through long-term commitments but creates single-counterparty concentration risk. Additional partnerships with NAV Innlandet (for the "Unge tilbake" / Young People Back initiative active since 2023) and municipal bodies (Elverum and Trysil kommuner) expand the institution's referral channels and broaden its service surface. A new warm water pool facility under construction, with planned opening before Christmas 2027, represents the most significant recent infrastructure investment.

Name

Stiftelsen Hernes Institutt

Legal name

Stiftelsen Hernes Institutt

Website

https://hernes-institutt.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Stiftelsen Hernes Institutt is a Norwegian non-profit foundation, established 1954 in Hernes, Elverum, operating one of Norway's two specialized work-oriented rehabilitation institutions. It serves patients referred by GPs and NAV, delivering the proprietary Hernes-modellen interdisciplinary rehabilitation program under Helse Sør-Øst RHF contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Outpatient Rehabilitation & Physical/Occupational/Speech Therapy Centers (HLAFABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multidisciplinary Outpatient Rehab Centers (PT/OT/SLP) (HLADAJAG)

Keywords

• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Work-oriented rehabilitation
• Musculoskeletal rehabilitation program
• Occupational health services
• Pain rehabilitation treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Hernes, Elverum

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Helse Sør-Øst RHF Operational Agreements: Herners Institutt operates as a specialized rehabilitation institution under Norway's public health system. The institute receives government funding through multi-year operational agreements with Helse Sør-Øst RHF (Regional Health Authority), which purchases rehabilitation services for 1.2 billion NOK in new procurement rounds effective 2026. Patients pay no out-of-pocket costs for treatment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Stiftelsen Hernes Institutt provides specialized work-oriented rehabilitation (arbeidsrettet rehabilitering) for adults with long-term sick leave, primarily related to musculoskeletal disorders and comorbid mild mental health conditions. Treatment follows the proprietary Hernes-modellen, a multidisciplinary, simultaneous, cognitive-based rehabilitation framework delivered by an interdisciplinary team of physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, sports pedagogues, rehabilitation consultants, and work instructors. The institute offers inpatient stays with on-site accommodation, work training, physiotherapy, occupational therapy with workplace visits, sports and conditioning training, and access to specialized workshop, gym, and swimming pool facilities.

Product overview

Stiftelsen Hernes Institutt is a specialized rehabilitation institution offering work-oriented rehabilitation (arbeidsrettet rehabilitering) based on the Hernes-modellen. The core offering is a multidisciplinary, cognitive-based rehabilitation program that combines medical services, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, work training, and sports/fitness activities. The institution operates specialized workshop facilities (woodworking and machine workshops), a swimming pool, gym, and on-site patient housing. A patient portal provides digital access to information before, during, and after stays. The facility serves patients with musculoskeletal conditions and mild psychological complaints, primarily those with long-term sick leave, aiming to return them to employment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arbeidsrettet rehabilitering og Hernes-modellen (Work-Oriented Rehabilitation and the Hernes Model) Multidisciplinary, simultaneous, systematic, progressive, and goal-oriented work-oriented rehabilitation process built on a cognitive model where personal effort despite pain is central. The institute's primary treatment methodology.
• Arbeidstrening (Work Training) Work training programs designed to help patients return to employment through practical work experience and workplace integration.
• Attføringstilbudet (Vocational Rehabilitation Program) Vocational rehabilitation services assisting patients in regaining work capacity and returning to the labor market.
• Ergoterapitilbudet og arbeidsplassbesøk (Occupational Therapy and Workplace Visits) Occupational therapy services including workplace visits and workplace assessments to evaluate and improve patients' work environments as preparation for return to work.
• Fysioterapi (Physiotherapy) Physiotherapy services providing individualized exercise programs and physical treatment for musculoskeletal conditions as part of the rehabilitation plan.
• Idrettspedagog / Kondisjonstrening (Sports Pedagogy and Conditioning Training) Sports and fitness programs led by sports pedagogues, including conditioning training and physical activities supporting rehabilitation goals.
• Legetjenesten (Medical Services) Medical services provided by physicians, including department physician oversight and specialist consultations within the rehabilitation program.
• Verkstedstilbud (Workshop Facilities — Woodworking and Machine Workshops) Specialized workshop facilities including a woodworking workshop (snekkerverksted) and a machine workshop (maskinverksted) used for practical work-oriented rehabilitation activities.
• Svømmebasseng og vannaktiviteter (Swimming Pool and Aquatic Therapy) Indoor swimming pool facility used for aquatic therapy and water activities as part of rehabilitation treatment.
• Treningsrom (Gym / Fitness Facility) Well-equipped gym facility for physical training and exercise programs as part of rehabilitation treatment.
• Pasientboliger (Patient Housing) On-site patient accommodations with apartments where inpatients can stay during weekends and throughout their rehabilitation stay.
• HI Pasientportal (Patient Portal) Online patient portal providing information before, during, and after rehabilitation stays, with sections for practical information and patient resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• Under 50% of patients receive state social benefits one year after treatment, meaning more than half return to work
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Helse Sør-Øst RHFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Entering a new multi-year operational agreement with Helse Sør-Øst RHF (Regional Health Authority) within specialized work-oriented rehabilitation. Helse Sør-Øst purchases rehabilitation services worth 1.2 billion NOK in the new procurement round. This secures the institute's operations going forward.
• Elverum kommunemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Formal collaboration with Elverum municipality (approximately 10% annual sick leave rate) to prevent sick leave and provide treatment for employees needing work-oriented rehabilitation. The municipality is a key partner in the local healthcare ecosystem, including through municipal loan guarantees for infrastructure development.
• Trysil kommunemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Collaboration with Trysil municipality (approximately 10% annual sick leave rate) to prevent sick leave and provide rehabilitation for municipal employees. Partnership initiated as part of efforts to reduce high sick leave rates through the institute's specialized services.
• Universitetet InnlandetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Collaboration agreement with Universitetet Innlandet for student placements in healthcare programs. Large student groups from collection-based continuing education programs visit Hernes Institutt to gain insight into work-oriented rehabilitation. The institute welcomes students from all health programs at the university.
• Nasjonalt kvalitets- og kompetansenettverk for arbeidsrettet rehabiliteringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaborative partnership on a pilot project starting in autumn 2024 to develop and map work-oriented rehabilitation practices, adapting the Swedish ADA+ (Arbetsplatsdialog for arbeidsåtergång) workplace dialogue model for Norwegian conditions. The goal is that new knowledge leads to more people returning to work.
• NAV InnlandetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Since 2023, Hernes Institutt and NAV Innlandet have had a binding cross-sectoral collaboration called 'Unge tilbake' (Young People Back) to help young people aged 18-35 return to work or education. The initiative aims to prevent youth exclusion, which is an increasing societal challenge as more young adults are outside paid work or education.
• Rehabnytte Project Consortium (17 Norwegian Institutions)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Hernes Institutt contributed to the comprehensive Rehabnytte research project examining the value of rehabilitation across 17 Norwegian institutions. The research confirmed that patients in all participating institutions increased their work capacity one year after treatment, validating the effectiveness of work-oriented rehabilitation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sunnaas sykehus HF: Norway's largest specialized rehabilitation hospital and a Helse Sør-Øst institution. Comparable to Hernes as a publicly funded, multidisciplinary rehabilitation provider offering physical, occupational, and vocational rehabilitation services within Norway's specialized health service.
• Krokeide Rehabiliteringssenter: Western Norwegian rehabilitation center offering vocational and somatic rehabilitation through public contracts. Comparable to Hernes in its work-oriented rehabilitation focus and multidisciplinary clinical approach.
• CatoSenteret: Norwegian rehabilitation center with a multi-specialty model including pain, occupational, and neurological rehabilitation. Comparable to Hernes as a public-funded, multidisciplinary rehabilitation provider working with NAV and Helse Sør-Øst.
• Beitostølen Helsesportsenter: Specialized Norwegian rehabilitation center offering multidisciplinary rehabilitation within the public health system. Comparable to Hernes for its interdisciplinary model, focus on functional recovery, and dependence on Helse Sør-Øst procurement agreements.
• Skogli Helse- og Rehabiliteringssenter: Norwegian rehabilitation center providing work-oriented and somatic rehabilitation programs to long-term sick-listed patients. Comparable to Hernes in target population, multidisciplinary delivery, and public-payer funding model.
• Valnesfjord Helsesportssenter: Northern Norwegian rehabilitation center offering multidisciplinary, activity-based rehabilitation within the public health system. Comparable to Hernes for its interdisciplinary model, mountain/inland setting, and reliance on Helse Nord procurement.
• Røros Rehabiliteringssenter: Specialized Norwegian rehabilitation center delivering multidisciplinary programs for musculoskeletal and chronic conditions under public health funding. Comparable to Hernes in patient population and service mix.

Broad incumbents

• Unicare Helse: One of Norway's largest private rehabilitation providers with multiple centers nationwide. Comparable to Hernes as a Norwegian rehabilitation operator under public health contracts, but broader in scope and geography.

Emerging players

• Sæbyholm virksomheds rehabilitering: Danish vocational/occupational rehabilitation provider operating under comparable Nordic public health frameworks. Relevant peer for cross-Nordic comparison of work-oriented rehabilitation models and return-to-work outcome measurement.
• Rehab Station Stockholm: Swedish specialized rehabilitation provider known for pioneering the ADA+ workplace dialogue model currently being adapted by Hernes. Highly relevant as a methodological peer and source of the inbound ADA+ design.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hernesinstitutt

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stiftelsen Hernes Institutt