LCRH Inpatient Rehab
By Keegan Harris
provides care for those relearning how to use their bodies
For many of us , having full access to our fine motor functions is taken for granted . For a few , simple tasks can seem insurmountable due to some interruption between the brain and the body . If someone finds themselves or a family member having difficulty recovering from illness or noticing changes in their functional abilities , they can visit Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital ’ s Inpatient Rehabilitation center .
The unit has a capacity for 18 patients , who come from all over the state and even some from as far away as Texas or Ohio . They must meet certain criteria during their stay . Patients need to be able to tolerate three hours of therapy a day with Physical Therapy , Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy .
The unit aims for a team approach . There are several healthcare professionals that will work with patients that have a variety of diagnoses to determine the best methods to improve the patients ’ functional progress and safe return home . The team includes doctors , case workers , nurses , and PT , OT , ST therapists who specialize in skills to promote the patients ’ progress .
The healthcare workers want the family to know how to care for their loved ones when they go back home . What exercises do they need ? What type of therapy ? Will they need to change their diet ? They hope that the families will be able to tend to their loved one and keep an active part of their lives . The families are actively involved in the care plan for the patient .
Patients are typically in the unit for 10-
12 days , depending on the functional and medical needs of the patient . The site has 24-hour nursing to ensure all patients are cared for at all times . The patient ’ s stay and medical condition is overseen by a Medical Director Physician .
The Inpatient Rehab unit has celebrated a large amount of growth in the last year . Just in the last quarter , the unit has seen a 30 % increase in the volume of patients they receive . In addition to their large growth in volume of patients in LCRH Rehab , their quality scores have also increased by 13 %, indicating more patients are progressing to higher levels of function by the time they are discharged .
Their gym holds a lot of state-of-theart equipment . One of their machines , an overhead ceiling lift , can support the patient while they are transferring and walking while the therapist facilitates movement and gait skills .
The gym also has a washer and dryer and full kitchenette . This is to help patients with day-to-day activities . The therapists can monitor how patients would navigate their homes . This helps them determine the best level of care .
Two people who are instrumental to the care of these patients are Allison Hicks and Kimberly Butler . Hicks is the admissions coordinator for inpatient acute rehab .
“ I ’ m the gap between marketing and clinical liaisons ,” said Hicks .
Essentially , Hicks does outreach for people who may need care at LCRH . However , her job also entails making sure potential referrals are meeting criteria for access to Rehab .
Hicks and the admissions team of Clinical Liaisons do pre-admission
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