Making the Right Choice During a Tough Time
Choosing the Right Rehabilitation
When Ron Galbreath and his wife, Pat, sat down to watch Pitt basketball play in the Big East Conference semifinals on March 14, 2008, choosing the right rehabilitation was the last thing on their minds. Little did they know it would end up being one of the most important decisions they would make in their lives.
During the game, Ron started to feel weak and nauseated. He thought he was coming down with the flu, but Pat sensed something more serious. She drove Ron to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a stroke. He suffered vision, speech and short-term memory difficulties as well as paralysis on his right side.
After a week in the hospital, some of Ron’s doctors thought he should be transferred to a nursing home. In Pat’s own words, “We just would not accept this for Ron and pushed for him to get into Harmarville.”
Pat’s insistence on a rehabilitation hospital versus a nursing home facility ended up being the right choice for Ron. As a patient of the Stroke Program at HealthSouth Harmarville Rehabilitation Hospital, Ron received the appropriate care – speech, occupational and physical therapy – he needed to recover.
With so many different kinds of healthcare facilities, how would you know which one would best meet the rehabilitation needs of a family member, a friend or even yourself?
- Do your research – Selecting a rehabilitation provider is like choosing your doctors; you want the best care possible for you, your family and friends. Rehabilitation services should be no different. Studies done by HealthSouth have found that good rehabilitation in a stroke survivor can increase their life span by seven years. Do the research and find what works best; it’s worth it.
- Don’t assume all therapists are the same – Therapists may be required to study the same information and abide by the same rules and guidelines, but a good therapist offers more than just textbook solutions. At HealthSouth, the therapists receive specialized training and practice with the latest technologies. As a result, they are able to offer patients the many advantages of innovative technology, not just routine textbook solutions.
- Remember, rehabilitation facilities and nursing homes are different – Studies show that patients placed in rehabilitation facilities after a stroke were three times more likely to be discharged home than those placed in nursing homes. Keep in mind, there are various types of rehabilitation providers, each offering different levels of care. Determining the best option is dependent upon the patient’s condition. Ultimately, the provider chosen should strive to help you or your loved one achieve the highest level of independence possible. See the chart on page 10 to learn more about the functions of different rehabilitation providers.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions –When the doctor or insurance company makes a recommendation, ask questions to ensure the provider and staff will meet the rehabilitation needs of you or your loved one. To ensure you’re making the ‘right’ decision, ask the following questions:
- How often does the doctor visit with patients and what type of access will family members have to the doctor or staff? In a true rehabilitation hospital, a doctor visits with patients five to six times per week, opposed to a skilled nursing facility where doctors are only required to visit once every 30 days.
- How long do most people stay and who decides when it’s time to go home? Every situation requires a different amount of rehabilitation time and a patient shouldn’t leave until their progress has been fully evaluated by the staff.
- How many patients (who have the same disability) have been successfully treated? This is an important question because not all facilities can handle every situation. It is acceptable to ask for the phone number of the specialists and ask questions about their methods of treatments and daily routines. Ask them how many hours of therapy patients typically go through a day. Remember, most patients can only tolerate up to three hours of therapy in one day.
- How many patients return home after discharge, opposed to going to a nursing home?
- What type of educational and weekend programs are available?
- Take a tour – Before you make your decision, make an appointment to take a tour of the hospital. Look for cleanliness, smell for odors, and be sure to ask questions about the competency of the staff.
- Do the comparison – Make sure to compare the years of service, specialty programs, patient satisfaction, national clinical ratings and patient clinical outcomes among facilities.
Taking these steps in choosing the right rehabilitation can make a huge difference in a patient’s recovery. Just ask Ron and Pat Galbreath.
Thanks to Pat and her husband’s Harmarville therapists’ hard work and dedication, today Ron is driving, weightlifting, playing racquetball, basketball and golf multiple times a week.
When it comes to finding the best rehabilitation services, follow Pat’s footsteps; demand a higher level of care, do your research and understand the differences in your rehabilitation options.