Events leading to your admission to this rehabilitation facility have impaired your mobility and your ability to care for yourself. Our staff will be working with you to plan a rehabilitation program that will help you regain as much function as possible during your inpatient stay in our facility. You and your family and/or significant others will be involved throughout the rehabilitation process. The staff will be asking for your input when setting treatment goals, planning discharge and when arranging for follow-up therapy and medical care.

HOW IS A REHABILITATION HOSPITAL DIFFERENT FROM AN ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL?

In the acute care hospital, most treatment was provided at the bedside with
constant monitoring and observation due to the acute medical status. As a patient at the Rusk Institute, you should no longer require this intensity of medical care. You will be actively participating in daily treatment sessions that are located on various floors within the Rusk Institute.

You are an important part of the rehabilitation team and will be expected to:

- attend all therapy sessions and appointments
- actively participate in your daily living activities (dressing, grooming) as much as possible
- wear comfortable street clothes with rubber soled shoes or sneakers during the day
- encourage your family members to take an active role in your rehabilitation process and attend treatment and educational sessions when requested by members of the rehabilitation team
- participate in discharge plans from Rusk Institute

HOW IS A REHABILITATION HOSPITAL DIFFERENT FROM A SUB-ACUTE PROGRAM OFFERED IN A NURSING HOME?

The Rusk Institute, an acute inpatient rehabilitation facility, provides services to patients who require an inpatient level of care –- 24-hour oversight by medical and nursing professionals. Patients admitted to this facility:

- are physically able to participate in a therapeutic interdisciplinary program for a minimum of three hours per day
- have potential to make functional gains within a reasonable amount of time
- will benefit from an acute, short-term inpatient stay with definite, measurable goals
- The sub-acute programs at nursing homes are recommended for patients who are not physically able to participate in three hours per day of active therapy. Also included in this population are patients whose course of rehabilitation is predicted to be longer-term.

WHEN DOES YOUR THERAPY PROGRAM BEGIN?

Your rehabilitation program begins at the time of your admission.

The physician and rehabilitation nurse will begin the initial process of evaluation.

Within the first 24 hours and continuing during the first several days of your admission, you will be participating in evaluation sessions provided by other members of the rehabilitation team who will be working with you during your inpatient stay.

The team will design a treatment program for you based on your needs, team goals and goals expressed by you and your family/significant others.

The evaluation findings will be discussed at an Evaluation Conference held during the first week of your admission.

You will be given a written weekday schedule, which will include a daily minimum of three hours of therapy. Your Saturday schedule of treatments provided by physical therapy and occupational therapy will be posted at your bedside. Throughout the day, you will be expected to participate, as much as possible, in all your self-care activities.

Your Physiatrist (doctor specializing in rehabilitation medicine) will lead the rehabilitation team assigned to your care. The team includes your nurse, nutritionist, social worker, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist (if indicated), psychologist, and other therapies and consultants as ordered by your physiatrist. Your physiatrist and rehabilitation team members will meet weekly at a Re-evaluation Conference to discuss your progress and to set new goals if necessary.

HOW DO YOU FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR REHABILITATION PROGRESS?

After the Evaluation and Re-evaluation Conferences, your physiatrist and other team members will:

- discuss recommendations with you and your family member and/or significant others you have chosen to be involved.

- answer your questions

- listen to any comments you may have concerning your treatment and discharge plans
These meetings, along with day-to-day conversations with your team members, will keep you informed of your progress.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN DISCHARGE PLANNING?

Planning for a smooth transition to home or to another facility begins early in the rehabilitation process. Your social worker and the entire rehab team will work with you to make sure that your needs are addressed. Discharge planning involves making decisions related to:

- where you will go after discharge from the Rusk Institute
- equipment you may need
- where you will receive follow-up medical care, if necessary.

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP IN THE REHABILITATION PROCESS AFTER DISCHARGE FROM THE RUSK INSTITUTE?

It is important to remember that your stay at the Rusk Institute is just the first step in the rehabilitation process. Most people continue the rehabilitation process when they are discharged to their home or to a sub-acute setting. Your social worker will discuss options for follow-up services including:

- Home Care and home therapy
- Out-patient therapy at the Rusk Institute or at other facilities
- Further in-patient therapy in a sub-acute facility
- You can call the Social Work Department at 212-263-5018 if you have additional questions.

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