Patients who need acute inpatient rehabilitation will benefit from a newly remodeled, state-of-the-art unit at Swedish Hospital. The unit features 31 private rooms with expansion to 40 in the future. Six rooms are dedicated to patients with disabilities and feature lifts and larger bathrooms to accommodate a higher level of care.
There are three gym areas, dedicated spaces for physical therapy and occupational therapy and private rooms for speech therapy. There also is a full apartment setup for practicing activities of daily living and preparing patients for a safe return home, according to Senior Director of Clinical Services Richard Cunningham. A suspension system, known as “solo step,” runs the entire length of a 100-foot corridor in the gym and safely allows patients to gain strength and endurance walking and practicing walking on uneven ground.
“It’s a beautiful facility with a much greater capacity,” said Clinical Operations Vice President Mary Alvarado. The highly trained, specialized staff includes nurses and therapists. With Swedish Hospital staff on Epic and Legacy NorthShore patients all on the same electronic health record system, communication is seamless. Video conferencing for physicians at other hospitals also is also available.
Medically stable patients on the unit receive at least three hours a day, seven days a week of intensive therapy, explained Cunningham. “Our goal is to have 80 to 85 percent of patients return to their home settings,” he added. The rehab team works closely with patients’ families, social workers and physicians to ensure comprehensive care aimed at safely discharging patients home. The cultural diversity of the community is also reflected and respected by a diverse team staffing the unit, ensuring culturally sensitive care, added Cunningham.
