ADMISSIONS

During your hospitalization, a rehabilitation physician (physiatrist) will help you identify your goals in relationship to ongoing physical and cognitive needs. If the goals you and your physiatrist identified are best achieved in an acute inpatient rehabilitation environment, an admission can be arranged. An acute inpatient rehabilitation facility requires your active participation in a combination of therapies designed to help you reach optimal wellness. Expect to spend three hours a day, five days a week in physical, occupational and/or speech therapies depending on the plan of care you and the rehab team have developed. The business office can help address financial and insurance concerns you may have regarding the stay.

WHAT TO BRING

Throughout a rehabilitation stay, you will be participating in a variety of activities and therapies, and you should be as comfortable as possible. Since your plan of care may include practicing to dress, wear your regular clothes while on the unit and during all therapy sessions. We recommend you wear slacks instead of dresses or skirts. We suggest you bring the following items with you:

• Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing (five-day supply)
• Supportive shoes (smooth rubber-soled shoes preferred)
• Personal toiletries and laundry bag

PATIENT – YOUR PLAN OF CARE

Your plan of care is built around your personal goals and abilities.  The doctors, nurses and therapists will collaborate with you to develop an individualized plan of care. Frequent treatment team conferences will review how your plan of care is progressing and if any of your goals have changed.

If there is a family member, friend or caregiver who should be part of your plan of care and treatment team please let the rehab team know.  For example, that person could participate directly in therapy sessions, learning skills that can help bridge the transition from inpatient rehabilitation to home

DAILY SCHEDULE

Your daily schedule will include several or all of the following therapies:

• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Psychology
• Recreation therapy

Your schedule will be available daily and may change from day to day. Sometimes it may start before breakfast, but it will always be completed by dinner time. Practicing what you have learned in therapy sessions will help your rehabilitation progress. Your nursing staff will assist you in this follow-up practice. Upon completion of the day's activities, you can expect to be tired. In the evenings you will find time to rest, relax and visit with your family and friends.

ABOUT THE REHABILITATION TEAM

The rehabilitation team starts with you. Should you have a support person, whether that is a family member, friend or caregiver, please include them as part of your rehabilitation team. The physiatrists, nurses, therapists, case manager and the rest will collaborate with you to deliver the best possible care and the smoothest possible transition home. Below are descriptions of the core team members:

• Rehabilitation physician (physiatrist)
• Nurse
• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Speech pathologist
• Recreation therapist
• Case manager
• Psychologist
• Dietitian
• Chaplain

REHABILITATION PHYSICIAN (PHYSIATRIST)

A physician, who is a specialist in rehabilitation medicine (physiatrist), will be the doctor who oversees your care in acute inpatient rehabilitation. It is not the same physician who coordinated your care when you were in the acute hospital. These two physicians consulted and agreed you would benefit from an inpatient acute rehabilitation stay. Your physiatrist will provide medical management, coordinate care with your other physicians and oversee your rehabilitation program. The physiatrist will be your attending physician. Your physiatrist, or an associate physiatrist resident, will meet daily with you to discuss your progress and make recommendations for future treatment.

NURSE

Your nurse has specific experience in rehabilitation and will monitor your medical needs on a 24-hour basis. Look to your nurse as a key contact who can explain how your day will be organized. You can practice the exercises you learn in therapy with the support of your nurse. Talk with your nurse if you are having pain that affects your progress in therapy — they can help identify strategies that address the problem. The nursing staff will work with you and your support person to review self-care activities and treatments and provide education regarding your medications and their side effects.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST (PT)

The physical therapist will help you to develop and regain physical strength, endurance and coordination. Your individualized plan of care will include therapeutic exercise and activities that will help you develop the strength and endurance needed to achieve your goals. You will work with your physical therapist on a daily basis to become more independent with bed mobility, wheelchair mobility, walking and other functional skills. You will be expected to practice some of these exercises when you are not at a therapy session, using nursing assistance when indicated.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST (OT)

Your occupational therapy practitioner works to coordinate your physical and mental abilities with activities of daily living such as dressing, eating, cooking, bathing and community skills. Your therapist will teach you strategies to increase independence and, if needed, recommend and help you order special adaptive equipment. Ongoing practice of the skills learned in occupational therapy will help with your transition home.

SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST (SLP)

Speech-language pathologists evaluate and treat patients with speech, language and cognitive disorders or changes.  They help you develop and regain skills in the areas of communication, thinking and reasoning. They also evaluate and treat individuals who have problems swallowing. Difficulties in these areas may affect all other areas of your rehabilitation. Through treatment and practice, you and your therapist will work to improve your communication, cognition and swallowing.

PSYCHOLOGIST

Your rehabilitation program includes an assessment of cognitive and emotional functioning. Many patients and their families also benefit from behavioral pain management, psychotherapy to aid in coping with medical, mood and cognitive issues; or family counseling to facilitate communication and role changes that can accompany illness or disability.

CASE MANAGER

The case manager will be your liaison with the rehabilitation team, your family and your insurance carrier. The case manager will work with you and your support person to plan for your discharge. The case manager can arrange for many of the services recommended for you by the team as well as identify community resources to help with your transition home.

RECREATION THERAPIST

Therapeutic recreation staff works with patients to address various quality of life issues and help patients to get involved in activities that they enjoy. By teaching adaptation and safety techniques, therapists help patients successfully return to activities that enhance their quality of life.

DIETITIAN

Your nutrition is a very important part of your recovery process. A dietitian is available to evaluate your nutritional needs and will make sure that your diet is right for you throughout your stay. Should there be a particular preference, or cultural requirement, regarding your diet, please let your team know.

CHAPLAIN

Chaplains are available to provide you with spiritual support, talk with you about your faith, pray with you and discuss possible ethical concerns. Clergy of most denominations are available for spiritual counseling upon your request. The chaplain is an active member of the team and can work with you throughout your recovery.

COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

Complementary and integrative medicine are practices and treatments that work with "conventional Western" medicine. Treatment, such as acupuncture or hypnosis, is available and can be used along with the conventional therapies your physiatrist may prescribe. If you are interested in these services, please notify your treatment team.

LEAVING JRB

The plan of care that started the day you arrived at JRB extends through your transition from acute inpatient rehabilitation to home. Your home medications and their potential side effects will be carefully explained. We will help you update or develop your personal medical profile.  If after discharge you need assistive devices like a cane or wheelchair, we will help you identify providers and costs.  If you need continuing therapies, we will provide you with choices that suit your preferences and match your insurance coverage. Also, the Waud Center located on the fourth floor at JRB has a variety of resources available that connect you to services in your community. 

GETTING YOUR FEEDBACK

We hope your stay at JRB is a healing and supportive one. Let us know what we can do to make you comfortable. Our number one priority is to offer you physical, mental, emotional and spiritual care that will help you deal with the rehabilitative challenges that you face. You may receive by mail a survey asking you for feedback on your JRB stay. We ask for your feedback so we can continue to strengthen and further refine our patient centered care. The patient point of view is formally represented to JRB Administration through our Patient Advisory Council. If you are interested in joining the Advisory Council, please let us know. Thank you.

CONTACT NUMBERS

• Admissions coordinator  (312) 942-2791
• JRB main number (312) 942-7000
• Rehabilitation Medicine (312) 942-8905
• JRB administration  (312) 942-3600