The goal of the Acute Rehabilitation Center is to enable individuals who have experienced disabling conditions due to injury or illness reach their highest potential for recovery and return to their homes and community. The Acute Rehabilitation Team of healthcare professionals has the special skills and training to assist patients to become as independent as possible in their activities of daily living.
The Acute Rehabilitation Therapy Team specialists include the following:
The Occupational Therapist will help the patient achieve a safe level of functioning in basic self care skills such as bathing, dressing, feeding as well as homemaking, work and leisure activities as appropriate. Range of motion, muscle strengthening, cognitive retraining, therapeutic activities and adaptive equipment may be used to maximize a person's potential to reach functional and safe independence. For more information about occupational therapy click here.
The Physical Therapist will focus on assisting the patient to achieve the highest level of motor functioning as possible. Evaluation and treatment may include assessing muscle tone, movements, strength, coordination and ambulation. The Physical Therapist will help determine a person's equipment needs and will provide training in the use of new equipment. For more information about physical therapy click here.
The Speech-Language Pathologist works with patients who have a communication disorder, swallowing and/or feeding difficulties. A Speech-Language pathologist may work with patients to improve difficulties involving oral motor control, speech, language, memory, problem solving and cognitive skills. For more information about Speech-Language Pathology click here.
The Recreation Therapist provides treatment through recreational activities that promote emotional well-being, socialization, and confidence building. Using a variety of techniques including craft projects, tabletop board and card games and music, the Recreational Therapist helps individuals reduce depression and anxiety, enjoy greater independence and learn how to integrate continued recreation through community resources after Hospital discharge.
A physician, hospital discharge planner, insurance company case manager or home health nurse may make referrals to the 15-bed Acute Rehabilitation Center. A patient's length of stay depends upon the individual, however the average length of stay is about 12 days. The program seeks to provide structure for the patients, in addition to the minimum of three hours of therapy per day. When a patient is admitted into the program, they will go through a thorough evaluation process to assess functioning in every area of daily living. Rehabilitation will begin on the first day and could include occupational, physical and speech-language therapies, either one-on-one or in-group sessions. The patient becomes a member of the "rehab community" where he/she can learn to believe in themselves, and strive to return home and back to the community.
For more information about the Northern Michigan Regional Hospital Acute Rehabilitation Unit, please call 231.487.3425.
2011 CARF Accreditation
Northern Michigan Regional Hospital has been accredited for a period of three years for the Acute Rehabilitation program. By pursing and achieving accreditation, Northern Michigan Regional Hospital has demonstrated that it meets international standards for quality and is committed to pursuing excellence.