The inpatient rehabilitation program at Down East Community Hospital was developed to address the growing need for short-term, skilled nursing care in rural communities and to better utilize hospital beds already available. Additionally, this program allows our community members to stay close by their loved ones while they get the services they need.
This inpatient rehabilitation programs provides short term care in a hospital setting for a variety of patients who need care after hospitalization for an acute problem. For instance, if a patient’s condition has stabilized, but they are not yet ready for home, they may be eligible for the Inpatient Rehabilitation Program. This program exists to meet the needs of patients who are in a transition phase of illness or recovery, but whose condition no longer requires admission to an acute care unit. The program provides rehabilitation and recovery services based on each patient’s individual needs.
After a thorough evaluation by our licensed professionals, the patient will receive daily therapy to meet self-care goals set by them and their inpatient rehabilitation team. Our physicians will monitor their progress and visit them throughout their stay and, if necessary, they can return to acute care.
Appropriate members of the team will meet, as necessary, with the patient and their family to discuss rehabilitation goals and discharge plans. When those goals have been met, the patient will be discharged from the program – either to their home or to another facility for longer rehabilitation. Reconditioning and activities of daily living are provided to ensure a smooth transition to the patient’s highest potential including social services and detailed discharge planning.
How is Inpatient Rehabilitation Care Paid For?
Inpatient rehabilitation care is often covered by Medicare, MaineCare, and many private insurances. Our hospital social worker will discuss your coverage before your transfer to the inpatient rehabilitation program.
Inpatient Rehabilitation Provides:
Restores strength, endurance, and mobility. It relieves pain, improves movement and function to maximize safety, and rebuilds confidence while you adapt to physical changes.
Promotes independence through programs aimed at improving your ability to carry out activities of daily living and restores prior level of function. Occupational therapy focuses on fine motor skills, adaptive equipment, and activities that foster independence.
Helps to regain or improve speech and communication and helps to manage feeding and swallowing problems.
Individual or group activities allow for promotion of independence and assistance in returning to daily life.
Helps manage the symptoms of breathing problems (asthma, emphysema, etc.) by teaching breathing techniques and exercise as well as the use of medication including oxygen and nebulizers.
Monitors intake of meals, supplements, tube feedings, and intravenous nutrition. It also evaluates adequacy of energy and protein intake to improve healing, response to stress, and recovery. Nutritional therapy includes education on medication/food interactions, and nutrition management of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiac disease, and COPD.
Provides daily, ongoing assessment and treatment to restore you to optimal health.
provides assistance with discharge planning and offers supportive counseling to help meet other identified needs. Social workers are available to assist with advanced directives, such as Living Wills and Healthcare Power of Attorney forms and to help residents and families cope with care giving needs.
For referring physicians
Contact us to initiate a referral to our inpatient rehabilitation program or to have a non-hospitalized patient evaluated for admission. Our Inpatient Rehabilitation Coordinator, RN, CCN can be reached at 207-255-0476.
The following criteria can be utilized for assessing admission.
- Patient has functional impairments resulting from injury, illness, or developmental disease.
- Patient has rehabilitation needs in two or more functional domains (mobility, activities of daily living, bowel/bladder management, cognition, communication, swallowing, etc.)
- Patient has sufficient physical and cognitive capacity to participate in a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program.
- There is a reasonable expectation that rehabilitation care will result in increased function and that a satisfactory discharge plan will be achieved.
- Patient is medically stable, i.e., patient’s medical conditions allow participation in a rehabilitation program, and medical problems have been evaluated and determined not to interfere with the patient’s potential to achieve rehabilitation goals.
- Patient and family agree to admission to inpatient rehabilitation and the tentative goals and length of stay.