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Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit

 

What is Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation?
 Your Questions Answered

Whether it's intended for a family member, or even your self, the world of physical medicine and rehabilitation can be confusing. But the Keokuk Area Hospital Rehabilitation Services Program can help patients adjust to the impairments of their disability while providing hope and strength to those who have experienced a major change in their life. Patients can focus on their recovery and the idea that their life can continue to be worthwhile, meaningful and fulfilling.

The following information is designed to provide you with some answers to common questions about the physical rehab services at Keokuk Area Hospital Rehabilitation Services Program.

  • Who's it for?
  • How long are patients treated?
  • What will the stay be like?

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Who would benefit?

The Keokuk Rehab Program is for people in our community who have suffered an injury, illness or condition such as the ones listed below.

  • Stroke
  • Congenital Deformities
  • Major Multiple Traumas
  • Head Injuries
  • Fractured Femurs
  • Polyarthritis
  • Neurological Disorders
  • Burns
  • Amputees
  • Spinal Cord Injuries

Other diagnoses will be considered on a case by case basis.

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Eligibility Requirements

  • Have an approved referral
  • Be medically stable
  • Understand the scope of the rehab
  • Require the treatment of two or more therapies (physical, occupational and/or speech)
  • Have the physical stamina and endurance to tolerate a minimum of three hours of therapy treatment, at least 5 days per week
  • Have an identified discharge plan and support system
  • Be free of uncontrolled infectious disease (patients with MRSA, ORSA or VRE will be considered for admission)
  • Be able to follow directions and participate in treatment
  • Be 18 years or older
  • Be free of mechanical assistive devices to breathe

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The Goal

The goal of the program is to enable the patient to function at their highest possible level of independence and productivity or to progress the person to the next level of care in the rehabilitation continuum.

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Getting Started — The Referral Process

Anyone can make a referral to our rehabilitation program, including physicians, case managers, friends, family members, former patients, and discharge planners from other facilities, such as a nursing home.

Reimbursement--will I have to pay for this?--is a common concern. Typically, patients must show functional, realistic progress toward their goals in order for Medicare to cover their rehabilitation stay. With commercial insurance, reimbursement may be negotiable depending on the policy.

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Personal, Team Approach

It's our team approach, at Keokuk Area Hospital Rehabilitation Services Program, which makes the difference in our patients' lives and in the community we serve. Our team includes a board-certified medical director who is trained in rehabilitation medicine, physical, occupational, speech, activities therapist, social worker and nutrition staff. The transdisciplinary approach enables us to provide the highest quality care for our patients. The clinical staff is also on hand to answer your questions, and those of family members. When desired by our patients, we encourage family involvement by including loved ones in the rehab process from start to finish.

While it is a Medicare requirement that patients receive a combination of at least two therapies a day - typically physical, occupational and/or speech - for a minimum of five days a week and three hours per day, rehabilitation at the Keokuk Rehab program is not a generic, once-size-fits-all program. Once a patient is evaluated, a very specific plan is developed and tailored for every individual.

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Not a Nursing Home and not like acute care

Like most rehab programs, a patient stay is typically fewer than 11 days. Each length of stay is dependent on such factors as the individual's diagnosis and other coexisting medical conditions.

Misconceptions about programs offered at physical rehabilitation facilities are common. While some patients predict that the experience will be like a stay in a nursing home or a hospital, that myth is quickly shattered by all the activities that keep our patients so busy. In describing the level of physical activity, some even say that it's a lot like going to the gym!

On a typical day, our patients wash up or bathe and dress (with necessary help), have breakfast at 7:30 a.m., followed by intensive rounds of physical, occupational and speech therapies, with breaks and lunch in between. Unlike hospital stays, rehab patients don't stay in their rooms to recuperate. They leave their rooms and attend therapy sessions to work on strength, endurance, balance as well as skills to improve activities of daily living. The rehabilitation process continues during all waking hours.

While many people believe that they'll be wearing a hospital gown, patients are encouraged to bring their own clothes, wear what they would at home and adhere to their usual grooming routine. The goal is to create as much of a homelike environment as possible. During holidays or special events, parties and celebrations are not uncommon.

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The Transdisciplinary Team

Our group of professionals, including the patient and significant others, works toward the goal of helping the patient achieve the highest level of independence possible. There are weekly team meetings and family conferences to keep everyone abreast of the patient's progress and discharge plan.

Our team includes:

  • Medical Director
    The physician is the leader of the team, providing medical expertise, overseeing and orchestrating the overall plan of care.
  • The Nursing Staff
    The nurses on the unit provide the medical care as well as help the patient practice the activities learned in therapy. They also do teaching about medications; disease process, bladder training etc. based on the needs of the patient.
  • The Physical Therapist
    The PT works on endurance strength and balance along with functional skills such as bed mobility, walking and wheelchair training.
  • The Occupational Therapist
    The OT concentrates on activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, feeding, kitchen skills) and reeducation of cognitive skills.
  • Speech/ Language Pathologist
    This therapist works on communication as well as thinking, swallowing and comprehension.
  • Social Worker
    The Social Worker coordinates the patient's discharge and is the liaison with community resources.
  • The Patient
    The patient provides the hard work, explains their goals and provides feedback to the staff.
  • Family
    They learn how to assist their loved one when they get home and provide support and encouragement to the patient.

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The Next Step

Before the patient goes home, the team may ask to do a home evaluation. Often the patient, plus team members go to the patient's home and practices activities of daily living. The team members can then identify structural or functional problems and work on solutions. "When our patients go home, the healing progress does not end," states Dr. Dhuna, program medical director. "We will send him or her home with information about home health care or instructions for following up with outpatient services." Most of our patients leave with a home program to help them continue the healing process even after their stay with us is finished.

For our staff members, the rewards from our jobs are the "success stories" we are privileged to see unfold. It's not uncommon to watch patients reach tremendous goals and then return for a visit to show us their progress.

For more information about any of these services, please contact:

Lori Mann, RN/ Assessment Coordinator
Keokuk Area Hospital Rehabilitation Services Program
Phone: 319-526-8747 or 319-524-8783
Fax: 319-524-5317

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