Regency Hospital Company issued the following announcement on Sept. 20.
As the pandemic spread nationwide, the demand for post-acute services changed dramatically. Select Medical’s inpatient rehabilitation and critical illness recovery hospitals and outpatient centers faced new challenges in providing safe, quality care to both our “usual” patient populations and those with COVID-related diagnoses. We responded with an innovative program that redefined teamwork and collaboration across our network.
We recently spoke with Dana Read Farrill, MS, CCC-SLP; CBIS-T, Director of Rehabilitation Services at SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital-Bridgeton and Patrick Porter, PT, DPT, OCS, Center Manager at SSM Health Physical Therapy - Richmond Heights who were instrumental in implementing this new model of care and collaboration.
Q: How did this model come about?
Dana Read Farrill: With COVID-19 at our doorstep, we saw an increased demand for inpatient rehabilitation and critical illness recovery services. On the outpatient side, however, with elective surgeries on hold and other limitations, our 70 SSM Health Physical Therapy clinics were seeing fewer patients. So, we developed a plan that would bring our outpatient colleagues into our hospitals to help meet patients’ needs during this unusual time. Staff were oriented, competencies reviewed and assignments given … and an extraordinary amount of teamwork happened from the very beginning.
Q: How were staff deployed?
Patrick Porter: We looked at this as a big puzzle and, despite many moving parts, tried to put the pieces in place to match the picture of care. We conducted needs assessment across our three SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospitals and the Select Specialty Hospitals in our region and matched staff with various clinical and support departments and locations. It took an enormous amount of coordination to balance needs, juggle schedules and accommodate changing COVID guidelines. Over the past several months, we deployed more than 250 outpatient staff who logged more than 20,000 hours in these different roles.
Q: What types of jobs did staff fulfill?
DRF: Many of our physical, occupational and speech therapists treated patients, while others worked in the nursing, materials management and administrative areas. Some staff, for example, served as nursing assistants, helping patients with their personal needs on both day and night shifts. Others helped to order, stock and deliver PPE (personal protective equipment). With COVID-related procedures in place, some staff helped screen employees upon arrival to ensure they were symptom-free and others helped facilitate communication between patients and their family as visitation was restricted. We learned that we are both resourceful and resilient, willing to work together and build stronger relationships with our health care partners.
Q: Why was this initiative so successful?
PP: The success of this program can be attributed to the flexibility, adaptability and shared commitment of everyone involved. Across the entire Select Medical network, we believe in taking care of each other … supporting one another. It’s part of our DNA; and that translates to our ability to work together and provide every patient with the best possible care – even in the most challenging of times.
Throughout Select Medical, hundreds of outpatient therapists, athletic trainers and support staff were welcomed by their inpatient rehabilitation and critical illness recovery hospital colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic and we salute every member of our teams for their tireless work and dedication to patient care. #RehabilitationAwarenessMonth
Original source can be found here.
Source: Regency Hospital Company
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