Your critical illness recovery hospital experience
Healing after critical illness is a unique journey. You arrive with individual needs, goals and expectations and progress at your own speed, learning new skills and strategies to overcome personal challenges. Your Select Specialty Hospital team is there every step of the way, guiding you while providing compassionate care and treatment.
Getting started
Understanding care in a critical illness recovery hospital will help you and your family feel comfortable and confident as you begin treatment.
-
We will partner with you to establish a relationship based on mutual respect and trust. This creates a care environment that is responsive to your needs, expectations and future goals.
We encourage you and your family to ask questions as we help you understand what to expect from the time you begin until the day you leave. If there is anything we can do to enhance your stay, please let us know.
-
You will be greeted by our admissions team who will make every effort to get you settled into your assigned room quickly.
Although we coordinate the many details of your transfer to Select Specialty Hospital with your referring physician, case manager, insurance carrier and acute care hospital, we will still need to obtain some information and signatures from you or a designated family member. We will also provide you with important documents and information about your rights and responsibilities as a Select Specialty Hospital patient.
NOTE: Care-related interpreter services are available free of charge for patients with limited English proficiency.
-
- If you wear eyeglasses or a hearing aid, please place them in a marked container in the top drawer of your nightstand when not in use to avoid losing them. If you wear dentures, ask the nurse for a denture box; never leave dentures wrapped in a tissue or on your meal tray. Select Specialty Hospital is not be responsible for loss or damage of eyeglasses, hearing aids, dentures or orthodontic equipment.
- Phone, television and internet service is provided free of charge.
-
Your care team will meet and assess you after arrival and formulate an individualized treatment plan.
- You will be evaluated by a physician, physical, occupational and/or speech therapists, nurses, dietitians and others, as needed.
- Please inform the physician about any prescription or non-prescription medications you take regularly, including dosage, frequency and the condition for which it is prescribed. Do not bring medication from home unless a physician orders it and a nurse has discussed it with you/your designated family member.
- A copy of your drug regimen is provided on admission. We will review it with you so everyone involved in your care clearly understands your needs. A physician will prescribe and pharmacists will monitor any additional medications required during your stay.
- A physician will also sign off on physical, occupational and speech therapy plans. Keep in mind that therapy in a critical illness recovery hospital focuses on gaining mobility – sitting in bed or a chair, moving your limbs independently and standing.
- You will meet your case manager who helps coordinate your stay and plan for discharge.
- Food and nutrition services will provide a menu for your meal selections and assistance will be provided to those with special dietary needs. (See “meeting your nutritional needs” below.)
-
Your care and safety are important. Our staff helps ensure everyone’s safety.
Please help us maintain a safe environment by following the guidelines posted throughout our hospital. This includes:
- Asking a staff member for assistance when you need to get in or out of bed, a wheelchair, or use the bathroom.
- Making sure that everyone washes their hands before and after any interaction and/or uses the hand sanitizers that are located throughout our hospital.
- Having family and friends check with a nurse before bringing any food or beverages to you in case there are dietary restrictions.
Please leave valuables, jewelry, credit cards, checkbooks or large amounts of cash at home. If you need to have certain items available to you, speak with your nurse.
-
It takes a dedicated clinical team, along with support and administrative staff, to ensure quality care, treatment and individual progress. You and the team of doctors, nurses, therapists, dietitians, pharmacists, case managers and others, will work closely to reach your goals. To learn more about your team, click here.
-
Patients may have visitors at any time and a family member may, with permission, spend the night. Check with your specific location about any visiting hours or restrictions.
During their hospital stay, patients have the right to designate who may or may not visit. This includes but is not limited to a spouse, domestic partner, other family members or friends. Visitation rights are not restricted, limited, or denied on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation or disability.
Family members and other visitors are not permitted in therapy gyms or treatment areas unless they have been specifically invited by the care team to participate in a training session.
All visitors must respect the privacy of all patients. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
-
If you are going home, you and your family may participate in training sessions and other activities to prepare for your safe and timely discharge. Diagnosis-specific literature, personalized instruction sheets, exercise programs and other resources may be provided.
-
The right nutritional support is essential to recovery following a critical illness.
Based on individual needs and preferences, our registered dietitians will prepare appropriate meal plans, including low- or no-sodium, low cholesterol, low calorie, or gluten-free options. Vegetarian, kosher, halal and other special diets can be accommodated. Recommendations for supplements, texture modifications and other adaptations will be made as warranted.
-
Many patients find their religion or cultural beliefs to be a great source of hope and healing, particularly at this time. Your family's spiritual counselor is always welcome to meet with you during regular visiting hours.
-
From the day you arrive at Select Specialty Hospital, we begin planning and preparing for discharge. Although individual progress determines timing of discharge, it’s important to have the necessary information, resources and equipment in place.
Your case manager will work closely with you and your family to coordinate discharge home or, if warranted, to the next level of care. We will provide instructions about follow-up care and appointments, continuing therapy and prescriptions, as well as information about support groups and community resources.
Any questions?
If you have any questions, concerns or would like additional information, please contact us.