Rehabilitation Unit

The Rehabilitation Unit of Saint Anthony Memorial is located on the fourth floor.  The 16- bed facility is staffed with experienced rehab nurses, nursing assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and a care coordinator for discharge planning.  The Rehabilitation Unit operates under the direction of a physician who specializes in physical rehabilitation medicine.  A patient’s primary care physician will continue to follow his or her progress while on the Rehabilitation Unit.

Patients may be admitted to the unit from home, another hospital, a nursing home or a physician’s office.  Patients referred to the Rehabilitation Unit by their physician are assessed prior to admission to be certain they meet the unit’s criteria.  Some of these criteria include having an acceptable rehab diagnosis, being able to tolerate three hours of therapy per day and having a high likelihood of returning home after discharge.
 
The goal of the Rehabilitation Unit is to return patients to their highest functional level.  While on the Rehabilitation Unit, patients are expected to actively participate in therapy and learn the skills needed to assist with their own care.  A home-like atmosphere is encouraged. Patients wear their own clothing while on the unit and are encouraged to eat and socialize in the dining room and pursue leisure activities when not in therapy.
 
Each week a team conference is held to discuss the progress of every patient. This multidisciplinary team meeting includes physical, occupational, and speech therapies, nursing, spiritual care, discharge planning, and the medical director.  After each meeting, the discharge planner contacts the family representative with a report on the patient’s progress.  Individual family training and family meetings will be arranged as needed.

Also available on the Rehab Unit is the patient training apartment, complete with cooking facilities, laundry, full bath and living area.  The apartment is used prior to discharge for the development of independent living skills.  It is used especially if the patient is going home alone.  Individual four-hour day passes allowing a patient to go home are also an option in preparing the patient for discharge.

A referral from a physician is required for admission to the Rehabilitation Unit.  Referrals may be made by contacting the care coordinator at 219-877-1613 or faxing information to 219-877-1838 to the attention of the care coordinator.