Choosing a rehabilitation provider for yourself or a family member is an important decision – one that can make a great deal of difference in recovery. While doctors and other medical professionals can provide advice, the patient and family must make the final decision. Here are some questions you can ask to help you choose a rehab program that provides the comprehensive, high-quality care you need and deserve.
Does the rehab facility provide the services that the patient needs?
Many people who require medical rehabilitation will need to use different kinds of therapy and a variety of services to regain as much function as possible, and learn how to cope with any physical limitations. MossRehab provides physical, speech, occupational and recreational therapy as well as neuropsychology, social work, vocational services and the specialty practice of rehab nursing. MossRehab offers several levels of care (inpatient, intensive outpatient day program, outpatient) so patients can receive the most appropriate combination of services and level of treatment.
Is the rehab facility accredited? What are the medical staff’s credentials?
MossRehab is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (TJC), the nation’s most prominent standard-setting and accrediting body for healthcare. The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredits individual rehab programs. CARF-accredited services at MossRehab include its Stroke Center, Drucker Brain Injury Center and Spinal Cord Injury Program.
Board certification shows that doctors have completed a specific amount of training, practiced a certain number of years and passed a difficult exam in their specialty. MossRehab doctors are board-certified in physical medicine and other specialties; nurses frequently have additional certifications in rehabilitation nursing.
Will patients have on-site access to emergency services in case of serious illness or major complications? And access to other specialists?
When you need immediate emergency medical care, it’s comforting to know that your rehabilitation facility can offer this expertise. All of MossRehab’s inpatient units are physically connected to acute care hospitals offering emergency services and comprehensive care in such specialties as cardiology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, nephrology, neurosurgery and much more.
Does the facility have a good reputation for rehabilitation? Does the facility have significant experience in rehabilitation for your condition?
MossRehab, part of Einstein Healthcare Network, has been the Philadelphia region’s leading medical rehabilitation facility since 1959. U.S. News & World Report has consistently named MossRehab among the top rehabilitation hospitals in the country. Many MossRehab doctors have been recognized as “Top Docs” by Philadelphia magazine.
Study after study shows that when it comes to medical care, experience counts. Experience isn’t just about longevity, it’s about how many patients a facility has cared for. For instance, every year, MossRehab cares for more stroke survivors than any other rehab facility in the Philadelphia region.
Is the facility involved in and recognized for research?
A facility that combines patient care with research and education can often make new, beneficial treatments available to patients more quickly than other facilities can. Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute’s research activities keep us on the leading edge of rehabilitation medicine. These activities also help MossRehab attract the best staff and bring medical and technological developments to patients. MossRehab is among a select group of institutions across the county federally designated as a Model System of Care for traumatic brain injury. A Model System of Care is a center of excellence for both treatment and research, funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research.
How is care coordinated among different medical specialties?
Doctors, therapists and the other medical professionals who make up the rehab team meet on a regular basis to plan and coordinate patient care and to discuss patients’ status and progress. At MossRehab, the team of rehab professionals meets frequently to discuss your progress, goals and changes needed in your regimen to maximize your potential.
What percentage of inpatients return home following treatment?
This information can tell you whether inpatients make sufficient gains in functionality to regain some measure of independence or at least are able to remain with their families instead of moving permanently to a nursing home. At MossRehab, 75 percent of inpatients return home following treatment.
How many hours of therapy per day do patients typically receive?
Intensive inpatient rehab patients should get the most from their inpatient stays. Inpatients at MossRehab average three hours or more of therapy per day. This may include physical and occupational therapy as well as speech therapy, recreational therapy, specialized rehab nursing, and neuropsychology depending upon their needs. Outpatient therapy will vary based on what services a patient uses.
Does the facility actively involve patients and families in decision-making?
Family members are encouraged to participate in rehabilitation sessions and practice with the patient. MossRehab offers support and education not just to patients but also to their families. We realize that stroke, brain injury and other conditions requiring medical rehabilitation do more than change a patient’s life; they change a family’s life, too.
For more information about MossRehab, call 1-800-CALL MOSS.
To arrange a tour of MossRehab, call 215-456-9465.