How do I choose a rehabilitation facility?
How is inpatient rehabilitation different from other kinds of rehabilitation?
Why should I choose HealthSouth?
What can I expect when I am admitted to HealthSouth?
Who will my doctors be?
Who else will assist me in my recovery?
What role will my family play in my rehabilitation?
What should I bring to the hospital?
Who will pay for my rehabilitation?
What do I look for in a rehabilitation facility?

How do I choose a rehabilitation facility?

To decide the best rehabilitation facility for you or your loved one, it is important to know that there are different kinds of facilities from which to choose. Maybe you have heard the terms used to refer to those choices: skilled nursing (or sub-acute rehabilitation) facilities, nursing homes, assisted living centers and inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. Although all of these facilities have rehabilitation professionals on staff, only one specializes in rehabilitation—the inpatient rehabilitation hospital. Because its primary focus is rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, like HealthSouth Chesapeake Rehabilitation Hospital, provide a higher level of care distinctly different from other facilities that offer rehabilitation services.

Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals:

Provide more intensive therapeutic services
Have more physician specialists with expertise in treating patients with disabling injuries/illnesses
Have a higher percentage of registered nurses skilled in rehabilitation nursing
Have the most highly trained therapists
Offer the most innovative therapeutic programs
Have the most up-to-date technologies and facilities
Provide comprehensive patient/family education

When considering your rehabilitation options, the most important question to ask is, "Which level of care best meets the patient's needs?" For more information, click here

How is inpatient rehabilitation different from other kinds of rehabilitation?

HealthSouth provides acute rehabilitation, a level of care quite different from other facilities that offer rehabilitation services. That difference is evident in several important ways.

Medical Services

As an acute rehabilitation hospital, HealthSouth has an extensive medical staff trained to provide the comprehensive medical management needed to help patients achieve optimal health and independence. Our medical staff is comprised of:

Internal Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation physicians
Numerous physician specialists, including pulmonologists, orthopedists, cardiologists, neurologists and neuropsychologists

Therapeutic Services

Acute rehabilitation hospitals provide a higher level of therapeutic services than other rehabilitation facilities. Although the intensity and duration of therapies depend on the patient's needs and capabilities, HealthSouth is equipped to provide each patient with therapeutic services:

Up to seven days per week
For three or more hours a day

The intensity and availability of therapeutic services provided through inpatient rehabilitation result in a high level of functional outcomes and discharges to the community. In fact, patients admitted to a rehabilitation hospital are three times more likely to go home than those admitted to a skilled nursing facility.

Nursing Services

As with medical and therapeutic services, acute rehabilitation hospitals provide a distinctly different level of nursing care than other rehabilitation facilities. At HealthSouth:

A 24-hour team of registered nurses and personal care assistants assess and attend to each patient's needs. They work in partnership under the primary nurse-model, which assures continuity of care.
Patients receive 6-8 hours of nursing care each day (compared to four or less hours per day per patient at skilled nursing facilities). This high level of nursing care leads to early recognition/prevention of medical complications, more out-of-bed hours and increased opportunities for patient-family education.
Fifty percent of nursing staff are registered nurses (compared to thirty-five percent at skilled nursing facilities).
Many of our staff nurses are certified registered rehabilitation nurses. Trained to meet the unique needs of individuals with disabling injuries and illnesses, these nursing specialists provide holistic patient care and patient-family education, facilitate carry-over from therapy and reinforce patient goals.

Why should I choose HealthSouth?

Choosing a rehabilitation facility is a lot like choosing a doctor. Sometimes a general practitioner is just fine. Other times you need a specialist.

When you need a specialist, you want someone with an excellent reputation and lots of experience in their chosen field. You want someone who has access to the best technologies and facilities. Most important, you want someone who will use all of his or her expertise to provide the care you need.

In the rehabilitation field, HealthSouth is like that physician specialist.

As an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, we specialize in physical rehabilitation. It is our primary focus.

Our expert staff dedicates all their skills and knowledge to one primary goal — improving each patient's functional abilities through intensive, individualized medical and therapeutic services. To help patients reach that goal, we provide the latest technologies, equipment and therapies.

What can I expect when I am admitted to HealthSouth?

During your first few days at HealthSouth, your treatment team will conduct various evaluations so they can establish your treatment plan and estimate how long you may need to reach your goals.

Each day you will engage in a rehabilitation program designed just for you. The intensity and duration of your therapies will depend on your needs and capabilities. Each week your treatment team will meet to discuss your progress, goals and discharge plan.

Your rehabilitation program may also include a family conference at which you and your loved ones can discuss your treatment plan with your rehabilitation team. Sometime during your stay, you and one of your therapists may venture out into the community so you can evaluate your abilities in real-life situations. Also, toward the end of your stay, one of your therapists may visit your home to evaluate it for safety and accessibility.

Who will my doctors be?

HealthSouth’s medical staff includes many full time hospital-based physicians and nurse practitioners whose only responsibility is to make your rehabilitation successful. Throughout your stay, every effort will be made to keep your own doctors involved in your care and aware of your progress. When needed, consulting medical and surgical specialists from area hospitals who have privileges at HealthSouth will be available to assist in your treatment.

While you are here, our doctors assume total responsibility for your care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, coordinating that care with your regular health care team in the community. Because HealthSouth values the integral role you and your family play in the rehabilitation process, we encourage open communication between you and your HealthSouth physicians.

When you are ready to leave HealthSouth, a discharge summary will be sent to your personal physician so he or she can pick up where our doctors leave off.

Who else will assist me in my recovery?

While you are at HealthSouth, a team of rehabilitation professionals will work in concert with you, your family, and one another to help you reach your rehabilitation goals.

Throughout your stay, a 24-hour team of registered nurses will assess and attend to your day-to-day health needs. Many of HealthSouth’s experienced nurses have earned certification in rehabilitation nursing; these highly-skilled clinicians possess unequalled training in meeting the specialized needs of rehabilitation patients.

When you are admitted to HealthSouth, you will be assigned a case manager who communicates with your insurance company and coordinates services you will need when you leave the hospital. If these include outpatient rehabilitation, HealthSouth has its own outpatient center that offers a full complement of therapeutic and support services.

Other members of your treatment team will be determined by your rehabilitation needs. These may include physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapists. If your injury or illness has affected your thinking skills or work capabilities, your treatment team may also include a neuropsychologist and vocational counselor. Because HealthSouth is committed to meeting your emotional and spiritual needs, we also provide family counseling and pastoral care services.

What role will my family play in my rehabilitation?

At HealthSouth, your loved ones are an integral part of your rehabilitation. In fact, we consider them part of your treatment team.

Therefore, your family is always welcome to attend your therapy sessions so they can see what you are learning and how you are progressing. Our staff also provides ongoing education to help you and your family understand your diagnosis, promote your continued good health and prepare for your return to the community.

What should I bring to the hospital?

Along with the usual items you need for any hospital stay, you should have several sets of comfortable "workout clothing" and soft/non-skid soled shoes or sneakers. With the exception of small personal items and a few dollars for reading materials, all other valuables should be given to family members for safekeeping.

Who will pay for my rehabilitation?

Rehabilitation is covered in full or in part by most health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. HealthSouth has contracts with major insurance companies and is willing to negotiate with other companies as needed.

What do I look for in a rehabilitation facility?

The next step in your recovery is your choice. Although many facilities offer rehabilitation services, the quality, amount and comprehensiveness of these services can vary significantly.

The following questions can help you evaluate your options for inpatient rehabilitative care.

Questions to help you evaluate Inpatient Rehabilitative Care	HealthSouth	Other
Is the facility truly a rehabilitation hospital, accredited by a recognized organization such as The Joint Commission or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities?	Yes
Does the facility offer a variety of therapeutic resources such as aquatic therapy and cutting-edge rehabilitation technology to help you reach your full potential for recovery?	Yes
Will your care be directed by a specialized rehabilitation physician who is available to manage your medical needs on a daily basis, if necessary?	Yes
Is the facility required to routinely monitor how well patients do as a result of their rehabilitation? If so, do the vast majority of patients return home after completing their rehabilitation?	Yes
Does the entire clinical staff work as a team, coordinating experts from a variety of disciplines, including medical, nursing and therapy, to ensure you receive the most benefit from your rehabilitation?	Yes
Does the facility have expert physical, speech and occupational therapists to carry out an individualized treatment plan based on your specific needs?	Yes
Are rehabilitation services required three hours daily and available up to six-seven days a week?	Yes
Do family members and patients meet regularly with physicians and the rehabilitation team to set goals and discuss progress?	Yes
Does the staff provide education and training such as support group meetings to help you and your family with the skills needed for a smooth transition home?	Yes
Does the facility offer comprehensive outpatient and/or home health services to ensure a smooth transition if you require further rehabilitation after your stay?	Yes