The Acute Rehab Team provides a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program for patients who have a diminished ability to function as a result of an accident, injury, illness/disease or surgery. The goal of the Acute Rehab Center is to help the patient achieve the highest level of independence so that he/she may return to the least restrictive environment in the community.
The rehab team is made up of a variety of specialists:
Medical Director - Physician specializing in rehabilitation who acts as the attending physician during the patient's stay. This physician provides overall medical rehabilitation direction and management for patients.
Co-Medical Director - Neurologist on staff to assist the Medical Director in management of patient care.
Consulting Physician Specialists - Physicians who specialize in internal medicine, cardiology, pulmonology, nephrology, urology, oncology, gastroenterology, orthopaedics and psychiatry assist the Medical Director with any special medical issues while the patient is in rehab. A hospitalist is available 24-7 to address issues that may arise during the hospital stay.
Rehabilitation Clinical Coordinator/Case Manager - Coordinates and supervises patient care, and educates patients and family members/caregivers about the rehabilitation process. The clinical coordinator also serves as a liaison with community resources and coordinates patient discharge.
Rehab Nursing Staff - The Rehab Nursing Staff has special training in rehabilitation processes and assists patients in practicing the skills they have learned in therapy, in addition to providing medical nursing. They provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are responsible for educating both the patient and the family members/ caregivers in promoting independence and self-care.
Occupational Therapist - Concentrates on upper body strengthening, endurance and purposeful activities to achieve the highest possible level of independence for activities of daily living (ADLs). ADL retraining includes bathing, dressing, and home management skills with energy conservation techniques. Occupational therapy provides training with use of adaptive equipment, if required, to allow the patient to return home at the highest level of independence.
Physical Therapist - Concentrates on lower body strengthening, endurance and balance activities to increase functional independence for home and community re-entry. Basic skills such as transferring, ambulation and stair training are assessed and treated to provide the patient with the ability to perform at the highest possible level of independence. Physical therapy also assesses the need for lower extremity adaptive equipment and/or assistive devices required for maximum functional mobility.
Speech Therapist - Focuses on communication, cognition and swallowing - important skills which may affect all other areas of rehabilitation. In speech therapy, the patient learns new techniques that compensate for newly acquired deficits.
E-stem and barium swallow studies are also available on-site.
Dietitian - Nutrition is an extremely important part of the rehabilitation process. The dietitian for the rehabilitation unit is responsible for evaluating and developing programs to meet individual nutritional needs. A dietician may also work with the patient and caregivers to ensure that nutritional needs are met after discharge.
For referral to the Acute Rehabilitation program or for more information, call (423) 493-1608 or fax information to (423) 493-1610.