Inpatient Rehabilitation Services

Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation differs from Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation. Patients in an acute inpatient rehabilitation program

• Receive daily visits by a physiatrist (physician who specializes in physical rehab medicine)
• Receive a minimum of three hours of therapy, five days a week
• Receive specialized rehabilitation nursing
• Receive higher nursing to patient ratio
• Have a shorter length of stay
• Need two or more therapy services (PT, OT and/or Speech/Language)
• Benefit from interdisciplinary team meetings
• Participate in a discharge prep meeting with their families and their team members.

The average length of stay for our patients is 13.5 days, while in a skilled nursing facility the average length of stay is 23 days. Patients who participate in an acute rehabilitation program achieve their goals quicker and can return to their home sooner.

The graph below shows our patients' functional improvement score from admission to discharge.

Eighty-two percent of our patients rated their overall quality of care as excellent or very good.

Because of the comprehensive nature of our program, many of our patients are referred to us from local and Chicago-area hospitals. Ingalls Center for Rehabilitative Medicine has been accredited by CARF – The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities for the following Inpatient Rehabilitation Programs.

• Stroke Specialty Program (Adult)
• Cancer Rehabilitation Specialty Program (Adult)
• Hosptial (Adult)

Our latest accreditation is the ninth consecutive three-year accreditation that CARF has awarded to Ingalls Center for Rehabilitative Medicine. This demonstrates that we meet internationally recognized standards and commit to continually enhancing the quality of our services and programs while focusing on customer satisfaction.

At Ingalls, we believe that initiating a rehabilitation program as soon as possible after a stroke or any brain dysfunction is critical to recovery. The effects of stroke and brain dysfunction can range in seriousness and lasting disability depending on which brain cells have been damaged. They can cause physical, cognitive, social and vocational changes, and can affect memory, mood and concentration. Functional activities such as mobility and daily living skills are emphasized. Inpatient rehabilitation is the first step to a long process of adjustments and education for our patients and their families.

Stroke

• Cerebral ischemia due to vascular thrombosis, embolism or hemorrhage; aneurysm bleed or post repair complications.
• Late effects of cerebrovascular disease

Brain Dysfunction

• Neoplasm (including metastases)
• Encephalitis, anoxia, metabolic toxicity, encephalopathy, subarachnoid, subdural and extradural hemorrhage or hematoma; seizure or intracranial abscess.

At Ingalls, our neurological program emphasizes improving functional activities such as mobility skills and activities of daily living. Neurological disabilities caused by trauma or disease may present severe obstacles to an individual's physical dependence.

Neurological conditions requiring rehabilitation include:

• Parkinsonism
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Polyneuropathy
• Developmental/congenital disabilities
• Neuromuscular disorders (motor neuron disease, myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophies and other myopathies)
• Abnormal movement disorders
• Spinocerebellar disease
• Disorders of the autonomic nervous system.

Our amputee program focuses on healing and preparation of the residual limb for possible prosthesis, improving functional mobility, and self-care skills while providing emotional support to help patients adjust to a new lifestyle. After discharge from Ingalls Center for Rehabilitative Medicine, an outpatient clinic is available for follow-up to evaluate and prescribe a prosthesis when appropriate.

Ingalls comprehensive orthopedic program assesses and treats individuals who have suffered a hip or other fractures, multiple traumas, or undergone a joint replacement which requires close medical monitoring.

Orthopedic conditions requiring rehabilitation include:

• Hip fractures
• Joint replacements or pelvic fractures, requiring close medical monitoring
• Major multiple fractures
• Laminectomy without neurological deficits

Spinal cord dysfunction conditions requiring rehabilitation include:

• Tetraplegia (complete, incomplete)
• Quadraparesis (incomplete)
• Non-traumatic spinal cord dysfunction
• Neoplasm of spinal column, cord, meninges, or other parts of nervous system
• Spondylosis or spinal stenosis with myelopathy, radiculopathy

General rehabilitation emphasizes improvement of functional activities such as mobility and strengthening, as well as energy conservation management and education. This includes maintenance or improvement of range-of-motion and joint integrity, adjustment to functional loss and management of pain and stress.

Conditions that may necessitate general rehabilitation include:

• Arthritis
• Pain
• Cardiac-related events
• Pulmonary diseases

Our Cancer Rehabilitation Program emphasizes improvement in functional limitations, pain, exhaustion (physical, emotional and/or cognitive), compromised nutrition, or distress. This includes improving independence and quality of life through participation in a multi-disciplinary therapy program and education.

Patients follow a rigorous daily treatment program that consists of a minimum of three hours of therapy Monday through Friday, and as needed on Saturday. Sunday is a day of leisure. Because this commitment of time and energy is so great, your family members are vital partners in the rehabilitative effort.

Patients who are receiving hemodialysis or radiation therapy treatments can continue these treatments on Ingalls campus while participating in our acute inpatient rehabilitation program.

Our services also include:

• Functional Mobility Training
• Gait Training
• Fall Prevention
• Home Evaluation
• Cognitive/Perceptual Retraining
• Dysphagia Assessment
• Splinting/Slings
• Wound Care
• Muscle/Sensory Re-education
• Orthotics and Prosthetics
• Speech Pathology & Audiology
• Bowel and Bladder Training
• Lymphedema Treatments
• Nutritional Counseling
• Pain control
• Psychological Rehabilitation
• Leisure Education
  Medication Education
• Adjustment/Family Support
• Discharge Planning

SaeboFlex

The Saebo Flex allows individuals with neurological impairments, such as stroke, to maximize the use of their hand in therapy and at home by supporting the weakened wrist, hand and fingers. The SaeboFlex is a custom-fabricated orthosis that is non-electrical and purely mechanical.

Wii Group Therapy

Use of the Nintendo Wii System technology offers several benefits including improvement in motor recruitment, dynamic sitting-and-standing balance, reaction time and coordination.

ADL (Activities of Daily Living) Apartment

The goal of our rehabilitation program is to return patients to their independent lifestyle. For many of our patients, the ADL apartment prepares them to return home. With a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom modified for accessibility, our patients work with their therapists to improve a variety of tasks in a home-like setting.

LiteGait

LiteGait is a gait-training device that simultaneously controls weight bearing, posture and balance over a treadmill or over ground.

WalkAide

The WalkAide is a Functional Electric Stimulation (FES) device. It stimulates the peroneal nerve which controls the muscles on the front of the shin. Patients who exhibit a weakness or paralysis of the muscles involved in lifting the front part of the foot causing them to drag the foot and toes can benefit from this device. The WalkAide can help patients who suffer from a stroke, multiple sclerosis, or other brain or spinal diseases or trauma.

Vital Stimulation

This treatment is for patients suffering from difficult swallowing or dysphagia. It is a noninvasive treatment that uses electrical stimulation and is administered to the anterior neck.

Lee Silverman Voice Treatment

Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) is an evidenced based program that targets common speaking problems such as soft voice, mumbled speech, monotone, or hoarse vocal quality. These speech characteristics are common in those with Parkinson's disease or other forms of neurologic conditions. LSVT LOUD research has demonstrated improved vocal loudness, improved speech intelligibility, and more facial expression.

What To Bring (PDF for printing)

Patients are asked to dress in loose, comfortable clothing to enable a productive therapy plan. It is recommended that the following items are here on your first day to the rehab unit. All items should be clearly labeled with your name. The number of clothing items should be based on how often a family member or friend can pick-up your dirty clothes to launder them.

• 3-5 pairs of elastic waist pants or shorts.
• 3-5 pullover t-shirts.
• 2 sweatshirts or sweaters.
• 3-5 pairs of underwear.
• 3-5 undershirts/bras.
• 3-5 pairs of socks.
• 1 pair of rubber soled shoes such as gym shoes.
• Outdoor jacket or coat.

Bring all other aids including:

• Eyeglasses.
• Hearing aids and batteries.
• Dentures and denture products such as Efferdent, denture adhesives, etc.
• Electric razor.
• Depends or incontinence pads.

Bring any of the following special equipment you are currently using:

• Cane, walker or wheelchair
• Braces such as a knee brace, shoulder brace, AFO, etc.
• Artificial limb(s)

Please do not bring personal electric items such as lamps, fans or holiday lights.

During your first few days, patients are assessed by the interdisciplinary team and a treatment plan is developed. The care coordinator will review goals you established with the team, inform you about the teams' recommendation including how long you need to stay in our program. The average length of stay is approximately 14 days.

Your therapy schedule will vary day to day. A copy of your schedule will be posted on the door of your room. If you have special treatments such as dialysis or radiation therapy, this will be noted on your schedule along with your scheduled 3 to 5 hours of therapy a day, Monday through Friday. Saturday therapy will be scheduled as needed.

Proper nutrition plays a vital role in the social and rehabilitative process. A dietician will review your physician's dietary orders with you and assist you with menu choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Your meals are served in our Patient Dining Room. If you need assistance with meals or have difficulty swallowing, you will be seated with the Diners Club. The Diners Club is designed to provide supervision and assistance at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Breakfast 8:00 a.m. Lunch 12:00 p.m. Dinner 5:00 p.m.

Family and significant others who may be assisting you with continued care after discharge from our unit are encouraged to spend as much time as possible on the rehab unit to ensure optimal educational opportunities. Visiting hours for these caregivers 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Visiting hours for non-caregivers (friends or young children) are as follows:

• Monday through Friday 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
• Weekends and Holidays 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Visitors may park for FREE in Lot E directly in front of the North Building, located at the corner of 155th and Wood Streets.

Your family or those caring for you are welcome to spend as much time as possible during your rehabilitation stay so they can become familiar with the care you may need after discharge. A Discharge Preparation Day meeting is held two to three days prior to discharge so our staff can present their discharge recommendations to you and your family. We make referrals for your discharge care, support and equipment needs.