20 Questions to Ask
How to Choose a Rehabilitation Facility - 20 Questions to Ask
The following questions can help you compare the services offered by different rehabilitation facilities.
- Does the facility have a medical staff that is trained in rehabilitation?
- Does the facility have a physician present at all times?
- Are the nurses qualified to care for patients who need rehabilitation?
- Are there enough nurses to provide high quality care to every patient?
1. Is the facility affiliated with any major hospitals?
RHCI is affiliated with Massachusetts General, Brigham and Women's, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospitals. In fact, RHCI was designed by Spaulding, ranked by US News and World Report as one of the nation's leading rehabilitation facilities. RHCI is a member of Partners HealthCare System.
2. Is the facility accredited?
RHCI is accredited by two of the nation's leading organizations for evaluating hospitals and setting standards of care: the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO); and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for its inpatient programs and Stroke Rehabilitation Program.
3. Does the facility have a formal way to monitor quality of care?
RHCI constantly monitors and improves quality of care based on internal assessments and comparisons with similar facilities. RHCI
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Participates in industry programs to measure its outcomes [link to chart in outcomes section of About RHCI] against national and regional benchmarks
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Conducts ongoing patient satisfaction surveys [link to quality in inpatient section of About RHCI]
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Conducts periodic employee satisfaction surveys
RHCI consistently receives high marks from patients regarding the care they receive. Over the last five years, we have averaged better than 97% overall patient satisfaction for both inpatient and outpatient care.
4. Is the facility clean and well maintained?
RHCI impresses visitors because it does not look or feel like a traditional hospital. Designed to be both beautiful and functional, RHCI was carefully planned to facilitate each patient's rehabilitation. It offers a spacious, light-filled, well-equipped and clean environment where patients can comfortably participate in their rehabilitation. Nestled on 44 acres of woodlands, the RHCI campus also offers therapists and patients many opportunities for incorporating the outdoors into the therapy.
Our many amenities include:
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Private and semi-private rooms, each with accessible shower
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Free telephone
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Free TV
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Free internet wireless connection
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Hairdresser services
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Easy access from major highways
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Free parking for family and other visitors
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Campus on 44 acres of woodlands
Enhanced therapy options include:
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Therapeutic gardening (including a raised bed for wheelchair access)
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Putting green
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Fishing groups
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Therapeutic walkway
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Baby grand piano
5. Does the facility specialize in rehabilitation care?
RHCI is certified by Medicare as a rehabilitation hospital. RHCI is dedicated solely to providing the highest level of rehabilitation care (known as acute rehabilitation care). Our physicians, nurses, therapists and other staff are specially trained in all aspects of rehabilitation care. Their mission is to help patients return to their homes and activities.
6. Does the facility offer specialized programs?
RHCI offers a broad range of neurologic and orthopedic inpatient and outpatient services. In addition, RHCI has developed a number of specialized programs, including:
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Stroke Program, which is recognized by CARF as a Stroke Specialty Program [link to CARF news release in Quick Links/News]
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Parkinson's Disease Program [link to Parkinson's Disease Program in Inpatient section]
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Bilateral Joint Replacement Program [link to Bilateral Joint Replacement Program in Inpatient section]
7. Does the facility have the specialized resources to enhance its medical, nursing and rehabilitation care?
As a hospital, RHCI has a wide range of clinical resources, including:
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Audiology Suite (and licensed audiologist who provides diagnostic hearing evaluations, hearing aids & repairs)
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Cardiac monitoring (telemetry) in all inpatient rooms and in the therapy gym
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Nerve conduction and EMG (Electromyography) laboratory
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On-site dialysis
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Orthotic and Prosthetic Clinics
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Pharmacy
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Phlebotomy services
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Radiology (X-ray) services: video fluoroscopy, swallowing studies (Modified Barium Swallow - MBS)
8. Does the facility have a medical staff trained in rehabilitation?
RHCI's on-site medical staff includes a neurologist and five rehabilitation physicians, all of whom are board-certified in their fields.
Rehabilitation physicians, also called physiatrists, are trained in the non-surgical management of neurological and orthopedic diseases and injuries. They are skilled in managing the medical needs of patients and in preventing complications that can occur after a serious disabling injury or illness.
RHCI's neurologist specializes in the neurobehavioral aspects of rehabilitation after stroke, brain injury and other neurological disorders.
Each patient's rehabilitation team is led by one of RHCI's highly skilled physicians.
9. Does the facility have a physician present at all times?
At RHCI, a physician is on-site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so there is always a doctor available to respond to changes in the patient's status.
10. Are the nurses qualified to care for patients who need rehabilitation?
RHCI's nursing staff includes nurses with special certification in rehabilitation nursing, as well as nurses experienced in acute hospital care. These nurses have the skills to support patients through the rehabilitation process and to care for patients with complex medical needs. Our nurses are important members of each patient's rehabilitation team.
RHCI's nurses are skilled in:
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Telemetry (cardiac monitoring)
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TPN, tube feedings, other feeding systems
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Central lines, IV therapy
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Wound care
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Tracheostomy care, BiPAP, CPAP, other respiratory therapy services
11. Are there enough nurses to provide high quality care to every patient?
RHCI's nurse-to-patient ratios are among the highest in the region. Our nurses consistently receive praise for their attention to each patient's personal needs as well as for their clinical skills.
At RHCI, nurses employ sophisticated computer and scanning technology to reduce the possibility of errors in the delivery of medications. These and other measures enhance the safety of our patients.
12. Does the facility offer specialized therapies?
RHCI offers physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapies plus therapeutic recreation. Other therapy services and resources include:
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Advanced exercise equipment, including cutting-edge neuro-rehabilitation technologies to improve recovery after stroke and brain injury [link to Advanced Technologies pdf]
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Functional Living Apartment [link to Functional Living Apartment in inpatient section]
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Home evaluations for soon-to-be-discharged inpatients as needed
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Innovative recreational therapy programs (adaptive golf, gardening and fishing)
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Low Vision services
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Therapy pool
13. Does the facility also offer outpatient physician and therapy services?
RHCI has outpatient centers in Sandwich, Yarmouth and Orleans. Each center provides both therapy and physician services, giving patients convenient access to specialized rehabilitation services throughout the Cape.
RHCI also has a pediatric outpatient center in Sandwich, the RHCI for Children Eileen M. Ward Rehabilitation Center.
14. How much therapy do patients receive?
RHCI's therapists provide an average of 3 hours of therapy a day and offer therapy services on the weekends. Therapy is spread out during the day. For patients who are very weak or ill, therapy begins at the bedside and is intensified as the patient progresses.
RHCI's therapists include:
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Occupational therapist
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Physical therapist
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Speech and language pathologist
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Respiratory therapist
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Therapeutic recreation specialist
15. Does the staff work as a team?
Each patient is the center of a rehabilitation team. The core rehabilitation team includes an RHCI physician, primary nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist and case manager - plus the patient and family. Other therapists and specialists can join the team if necessary.
The team meets regularly to evaluate the patient's progress and to coordinate services so that the patient receives the most benefit from the treatment plan.
16. Are other specialists available if needed?
RHCI employs many specialists who can bring added expertise to the patient's care team as needed. These specialists are available right at RHCI, making it easy to integrate them into the treatment plan.
RHCI's other specialists include:
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Audiologist
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Dietitian
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Orthotist
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Prosthetist
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Psychiatrist
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Psychologist
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Social worker
17. How is the treatment plan developed?
The rehabilitation team works with the patient and patient's family to develop an individualized treatment plan based on the patient's needs, goals and circumstances.
18. Who plans for the patient's discharge and handles insurance questions?
Each rehabilitation team includes a patient care coordinator who facilitates communication to ensure that all members of the team are working together. The coordinator also communicates with insurance providers, prepares a discharge plan, and arranges services the patient may need after going home.
19. What happens if the family needs instruction about how to care for the patient after discharge?
Family members are an important part of the rehabilitation team and are encouraged to observe therapy and participate in key team meetings. The rehabilitation team will educate the family about how to assist the patient once he or she has returned home. The goal is always to make the transition to home as smooth as possible.
In some cases, a family member may stay overnight with their loved one in the Activities of Daily Living Apartment. The ADL apartment, located within the inpatient unit, provides a safe environment where the family member can practice providing the care the patient will require at home. Of course, RHCI staff are available to assist as necessary.
RHCI also conducts or hosts a number of support groups that might be helpful in providing ongoing support for those living with chronic illness or disability.
20. How would you describe the staff?
RHCI's mission is to restore function and independence, so our staff is carefully selected to create a warm, compassionate, positive and safe environment. RHCI's staff are consistently praised by patients and families for their skill, knowledge and professionalism. Our staff are also known for their ability to motivate and encourage patients and to support family members throughout the recovery and healing process. They are often recognized for their generosity of spirit, tendency to "go above and beyond," and their uncommon commitment to personal care.
