General Information

The newly renovated unit design provides a brightly lit and caring environment with private and semi-private rooms. We encourage family members to bring in personal items to make the patients room comfortable and "homelike".

Some rooms have cameras to help ensure patient safety while allowing independence. Our rooms are large and specially designed to cater to patients undergoing rehabilitation. Our goal is to provide the least restrictive environment possible.

The unit also has two day room areas where patients and families can visit and relax during rest periods in the evening or when not in use by the therapists.

While on the 2N inpatient rehab unit, families are encouraged to participate in therapy with their family member.

Between therapy sessions, other team members encourage patients to practice the skills learned in therapy. Practicing new skills throughout the day helps patients to meet their goals sooner.

We try to accommodate all requests for overnight stays, but in order to allow for patient privacy, all overnight stays will be reviewed on an individual basis.

In order to meet the needs of the patients participating in our rehabilitation program, please observe the following:

Depending on your diagnosis/condition visitors may be lilmited. We recommend no more than two visitors at one time, in addition to your significant other, guardian, or primary caregiver.

Children are allowed to visit during visiting hours only. They are to be suprevised at all times by an adult.

For the safety of all, aptients will not be alllowed to be the sole supervisor of any children. Visiting children are NOT allowed in the therapy area or the gym.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation staff make a distinction between visitors and caregivers. We know that based on your injury or illness, there can be a lot to learn about your care. Designated caregivers are allowed to be on the unit throughout the day and encouaged to be part of your schedule, rehabilitation therapy, and activity.

All patients are evaluated on admission and individualized goals are developed with the patient and family to assist the patient to return home or go to another level of rehabilitation.

For the pediatric patient, the unit has many age appropriate activities and equipment.

We work with the patient and family to develop a daily schedule of therapy activities. In addition to receiving three hours of physical therapy, occupation therapy and speech therapy (if needed), patients are able to participate in recreation programs.

Some of these programs include:

• Computer access
• Coffee club
• Socialization
• Nintendo
• Community outings
• Off-unit dining program
• Karaoke
• Videos
• Animal Assisted Therapy
• Red Hat Lunch Program

We have a state of the art therapy gym that has the most equipment including unweighted walking system, electric stimulation and strengthening equipment as well as utilization of the most up to date techniques including kinesiotaping constraint therapy and serial casting. Part of the gym is set up with a kitchen, bed and bathroom area. This area allows patients to practice skills learned in therapy in a home like setting.

Included in the rehab program are educational sessions and classes focusing on issues related to the person s illness or injury. It is important that the family or caregiver attend these classes and therapy sessions.

Before discharge the Nurses provide education to assist you to care for yourself at home. This could include: medications, dressings to wounds, or bowel and bladder care.

A Brain Injury Education class review topics such as: Introduction to the Brain, Communication and Thinking Skills, Community Re-entry and discharge planning

The rehab team may include the following people:

• The patient
• The patients family
• Physiatrist (rehabilitation doctor)
• Vocational Rehab
• RN/Nursing Staff
• Social Worker
• Case Manager
• Physical therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech therapy
• Pastoral Care
• Respiratory therapy
• Therapeutic Recreation Services
• Dietician
• Psychologist
• Consulting or Primary Doctor
• Child Life Specialist
• Hospital School teacher

The Inpatient Rehab Unit is for short term acute rehabilitation.

The Case Manager and rehab team will work with the patient and family from the time of admission to help determine the best plan for discharge.

Most of our patients return home. Some patients need more assistance than can be provided at home and may go to another type of rehab.

Patients may also continue their rehab in our Outpatient Services here at University Hospital.