Acute rehab unit opens Monday

FINDLAY — Hancock County's first acute rehabilitation unit is set to open Monday. Media and other community members were given a tour of the new unit at Blanchard Valley Hospital Thursday afternoon in advance of next week's official opening. In the 12-bed ARU, patients get a minimum of three hours of physical, occupational and/or speech therapy five days a week, which makes for a more strenuous therapy schedule than a patient might normally experience in a skilled nursing facility. In addition, stays in the ARU will typically be relatively short, with an average stay estimated at two weeks by BVHS officials. "Patients will need to be able to tolerate this more intense approach to rehabilitation," said Jessica Moore, director of inpatient nursing, in a release. "It will not be the right fit for everyone, but the right patient will find that it may allow them to heal more quickly and return home after completing rehab. We expect the ARU to allow us to discharge patients sooner and reduce the likelihood they will be readmitted to the hospital." Patients will be assessed for potential discharge to the ARU by BVH's inpatient team. Hospital officials expect most of the patients sent to the ARU will be recovering from a stroke or other traumatic injuries. In addition to a gym with various exercise machines related to rehabilitation, the unit includes a room for activities designed to look and feel like home, with a simulated bathroom and kitchen. This will allow patients to practice everyday skills like cooking or washing clothing, so healthcare professionals can see if they need help or are ready to safely perform these activities upon returning home. There will also be an activity and dining room, as social interaction between patients is woven into the ARU approach. "Social interaction has a healing component," said Craig Hughes, operations manager of rehabilitation and sports medicine, in the release. "We know that patients who are more engaged with others tend to fare better both physically and mentally." BVHS is partnering with Lifepoint Rehabilitation, a business unit of Lifepoint Health and a provider of rehabilitation program management services for rehab centers and other post-acute and outpatient care settings across the U.S. Lifepoint Rehabilitation will support BVHS with management programs and best practices in rehabilitation services. Nurses working at the ARU will be BVHS associates, according to the release.