The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Franciscan Alliance introduced a new program in Northern Indiana Region. A Comprehensive Outpatient Therapy Clinic opened in January at St. John Medical Center in St. John.
The clinic will focus on the treatment of patients with functional impairments related to neurological deficits caused by such diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, brain injuries or the aftereffects of a stroke; amputees and other impairments, due to work-related injuries that require a coordinated approach to the delivery of multiple therapies (physical, outpatient and speech therapy). This therapy approach, sometimes referred to as “Day Rehabilitation,” is delivered daily for either three hours or six hours for four to six weeks.
It is the only program Northwest Indiana that will allow patients to be in their community to receive treatment that will allow them to maximize their functional independence.
An Early Mobility ICU Program was introduced at Franciscan St. Anthony Health- Crown Point in early September and is being expanded to Franciscan St. Margaret Health and to Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Michigan City.
The program is an evidenced-based approach developed at Johns Hopkins and the University of Chicago that has dramatically reduced the length of stay in the ICU, cut hospital expenses, decreased readmissions and prevented the creation of disability due to immobilization. Treatment protocol has been approved by the Critical Care Committee and the Medical Executive Committee. It includes the mobilization of patients, including those on respirators, with the goal of treating 80 to 100 percent of them in the ICU. As a result, more of the patients will have the endurance to participate in the three hours of therapy that is a requirement for admission to the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit, instead of going to a nursing home or LTAC.
The program was facilitated by the physical therapy unit in collaboration with pulmonary medicine, critical care nursing, respiratory therapy, PM&R and physical and occupational therapy departments.
