Inpatient rehabilitation is an important part of the recovery process for someone healing from a serious injury. Shaun Fant, occupational therapist with Covenant Health, talks about the inpatient rehab facility and the services it provides for patients in the Lubbock community.
•The inpatient rehabilitation center at Covenant Health is part of the recovery process for patients who have suffered serious injuries such as stroke and spinal cord injuries.
•Depending on the severity of the injury, the average patient stay is two to six weeks. Patients participating in the inpatient rehab program receive round-the-clock care from Covenant Health doctors and nurses.
•When patients begin their stay at the inpatient rehab facility, they are first assessed to determine exactly what kind of rehabilitation they need. A rehab plan is developed based on this assessment and what the patient wants to accomplish while at the rehab facility.
•Patients participating in the inpatient rehabilitation program have a minimum of three hours of therapy Monday through Friday. The program includes certified speech, occupational and physical therapists to assist patients in their recovery.
•The goal of the inpatient rehabilitation program is to re-teach patients how to do everyday tasks, as well as teach them how to compensate for any loss of skills they may experience.
•The rehab facility has areas where patients can work on improving their motor skills in a real-world setting. “Easy Street” has a grocery store area where patients can practice picking up and moving items like fruit and cereal boxes. The facility also has a department store area, kitchen, bathroom and gas station/garage area so patients can get reacquainted with performing tasks in those particular settings.
•Family members are encouraged to visit their loved ones during their time in the rehab facility, especially during their therapy sessions. Being present during the therapy sessions, not only gives the patient much needed support, but it also prepares the family for caring for the patient after they leave inpatient rehab.
Proper education is essential, stresses Fant, for both the patient and their family. The inpatient rehabilitation facility aims to prepare patients and their families for life after rehab so that the patients live as normally as possible.