EIRMC's Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation: Hospital care for independence at home

With a kitchen, a musical keyboard, a putting green for patients, and plenty of household objects, the inpatient acute rehabilitation unit at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) doesn’t look like a typical hospital unit – and that’s because it’s not.

Inpatient acute rehabilitation focuses on helping patients increase their independence and quality of life after suffering injuries or chronic diseases. Utilizing a high concentration of occupational, speech, cognitive and physical therapy techniques, patients within EIRMC’s inpatient rehab unit work to achieve daily living and vocational goals. Since each patient’s interests and needs are unique, so is the customized therapy delivered within the facility.

“We mostly see patients recovering from strokes, spinal cord or brain injuries, amputation, poly-trauma incidences and some neurological disorders, although there are other types of hospital patients that also could benefit from our services. We’re here to help people get better,” said Dr. Tyler Hedin, director of EIRMC’s inpatient acute rehabilitation unit.

“Our therapists are creative at finding specific areas of therapy that may be beneficial to each patient. They can cater therapy for each patient depending on what it is the patient wants to do at home. If the patient bakes a lot, we have a kitchen for that; if they play the piano, we have a keyboard; if they golf, we have a putting green,” explains Dr. Hedin. “We strive to deliver personalized care; and ultimately, we aim to help patients be safe in what they need to do independently at home.”

Who receives inpatient rehabilitation?

Patients can qualify for EIRMC’s inpatient acute rehabilitation services if they would benefit from two therapies (occupational, physical, cognitive or speech therapy); need close involvement from their physicians; require close overnight nursing oversight; and are 12 years old and older. Once admitted within the unit, patients receive at least three hours of therapy per day.

The average patient stays at EIRMC’s 20-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit between 10 and 12 days. During that time, they focus on rebuilding strength and regaining skills of independence, such as the ability to groom, prepare meals, manage finances, ride public transportation and meet vocational goals.

Inpatient rehabilitation: Dedicated to improving quality of life

Patients at EIRMC’s inpatient rehabilitation unit benefit from a robust medical support team that collaborates on their behalf. Physiatrists (physicians who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation) work closely with other medical physicians, rehabilitation nurses, physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, respiratory therapists, dieticians and more, to ensure that every aspect of care is considered.

The holistic approach while at the hospital carries over to greater quality of life once patients return to their home.

For example, Dr. Hedin shared success stories of patients who suffered strokes and could no longer swallow or move one side of their body. These patients entered the inpatient rehabilitation unit unable to get out of bed on their own and unable to eat safely. After several weeks in the unit, they had mastered a walker and were eating a regular diet.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see their progress,” Dr. Hedin said. “I’ve been doing this for about 5 years, and it’s nice to tell patients that it’s not going to be this bad forever. We can help them get stronger and get them home, and most of our patients leave much better than when they arrived.”

As the only inpatient rehabilitation services available in the area, the EIRMC unit receive patients from all over the region. Then, once the patients return home, Dr. Hedin continues to follow up on their care.

“I see patients in a clinic after they leave our inpatient services, so I make sure nothing is falling through the cracks at home. I enjoy keeping in touch with our patients as they continue their journey to healing. I’m so proud of them and their progress, and it’s an honor to play a part in it,” Dr. Hedin said.

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Why would a hospital unit contain a kitchen, musical keyboard and putting green for patients?

EIRMC inpatient rehabilitation unit utilizes customized physical, occupational, cognitive and speech therapy to help patients get back to living life safely.

For some, that means learning to swallow again.

For others, it means learning to cook a meal for themselves.

For every patient in the unit, it means at least three hours of therapy a day, so they can return home more capable of living a quality life.

“… it’s nice to tell patients that it’s not going to be this bad forever. We can help them get stronger and get them home; and most of our patients leave much better than when they arrived,” said Dr. Tyler Hedin, director of EIRMC’s inpatient rehabilitation unit.