The History of National Rehabilitation Week

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2 The History of National Rehabilitation Week The week of September will mark the 22nd anniversary of National Rehabilitation Week in the United States. Rehabilitation professionals across America joined forces in 1990 to obtain a Presidential Proclamation that designates the third week in September as National Rehabilitation Week. Here at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospitals of New Jersey at Tinton Falls and Toms River, we have plenty of reasons to celebrate this special week. To understand the discipline of Physical Therapy, a major component of the rehabilitation process, it is important to look at its history and its evolution. Physical Therapy is a profession focusing upon the remediation of a patient s disabilities, the improvement of both mobility and of an individual s quality of life. The origin of Physical Therapy dates back 2,472 years ago when Hippocrates used hydrotherapy, massage and manipulative therapy to treat patents in pain relief and stress reduction. Physical Therapy was popularized in the United States to treat soldiers injured during the First World War in The rehab performed at this time was typically done by nurses with a background in massage therapy or physical education. They were called Reconstruction Aides. The first research paper on the benefits of Physical Therapy was published in 1921, which opened the doors for the national accreditation of physiotherapy the same year. Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, DC established the first school of Physical Therapy in the US. During the 1950 s, Physical Therapy evolved from massage, exercise and traction to include spine and joint manipulation. Today, Physical Therapy has advanced and expanded into specialties ranging from Pediatrics to Women s Health. In the United States today there are nearly 200,000 Physical Therapists actively rehabilitating patients with a wide variety of physical conditions including amputation, Arthritis, MS, Parkinson s, Osteoporosis, Stroke, joint replacement, Pulmonary and Cardiac conditions. At HealthSouth, our therapists are dedicated to getting all of our patients on the Road to Recovery through rehabilitation.

3 Making the Right Choice for Your Rehabilitation With so many different kinds of healthcare facilities, the below tips can help you compare availability of services, personnel, approach to delivery of patient care and patient outcomes, and find rehabilitative care that best meets the needs for you or your loved one. Do your research: Selecting a rehabilitation provider is like choosing your doctors; you want the best care possible for you or your loved one. Many facilities offer rehabilitation services but the quality, experience and comprehensive nature of these services can vary significantly. Don t assume all therapists are the same: Therapists may be required to study the same information and abide by the same rules and guidelines, but a good therapist offers more than just textbook solutions. At HealthSouth, therapists are experienced in providing rehabilitation for many conditions including stroke, spinal cord, amputee, neurological and more. Our therapists are also skilled to help patients relearn the skills needed to return to the community. Rehabilitation facilities and nursing homes are different: Research shows that outcomes are better and recovery is faster in the acute-care setting, compared to skilled nursing and nursing home care. But, there are various types of rehabilitation providers, each offering different levels of care. Determining the best option is dependent upon the patient s condition. Ultimately, the provider chosen should strive to help you or your loved one achieve the highest level of independence possible. Don t be afraid to ask questions: When the doctor or insurance company makes a recommendation, ask questions to ensure the provider and staff will meet the rehabilitation needs of you or your loved one. To ensure you re making the right decision, you can ask the following questions: How often does the doctor visit with patients and what type of access will family members have to the doctor or staff? In a true rehabilitation hospital, a doctor visits with patients five to six times per week, opposed to a skilled nursing facility where doctors are only required to visit once every 30 days. How long do most people stay and who decides when it s time to go home? Every situation requires a different amount of rehabilitation time and a patient shouldn t leave until their progress has been fully evaluated by their entire rehabilitation team.

4 How many patients (who have the same/similar condition) have been successfully treated? This is an important question because not all facilities can handle every situation. It is acceptable to ask for the phone number of the specialists and ask questions about their methods of treatments and daily routines. Ask them how many hours of therapy patients typically go through a day. How many patients return home after discharge, opposed to going to a nursing home? This varies by condition. What type of educational and weekend programs are available? Many HealthSouth rehabilitation hospitals offer support groups and other resources. Take a tour: Before you make a decision, make an appointment to take a tour of the hospital. Look for cleanliness, smell for odors and ask to see therapy areas and equipment. Do the comparison: Make sure to compare the years of service, specialty programs, patient satisfaction, national clinical ratings and patient clinical outcomes among facilities. The Joint Commission awards many Disease-Specific Care Certifications for rehabilitation programs that demonstrate compliance with national healthcare standards in quality and safety. Taking these steps in choosing the right rehabilitation can make a huge difference in a patient s recovery. When it comes to finding the best rehabilitation services, be sure that understand the differences in your rehabilitation options. For more information, contact HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Toms River and HealthSouth Hospital of Tinton Falls.

5 Local Man Receives Top Notch Rehab at HealthSouth On the morning of April 4, 2011, Charles Rossi of Freehold Township was having a routine day as an experienced school bus driver in Jackson. He was driving his school bus filled with children heading for their elementary school when he suddenly lost consciousness. He had not realized that anything was wrong until he heard the mirror of the bus striking a stop sign and the aide on the bus yelling to him that something terrible had happened. At the urging of the aide, Charles steered the bus to the side of the road and stopped it. It was then that she told him that he had been driving all over the road and that he had passed out briefly. The Jackson First Aid responded immediately and took him to the hospital. He still did not realize that anything was wrong until he felt numbness in the left side of his body and he had difficulty walking. Charles had suffered a stroke. After admission to the hospital, his attending physician decided to transfer him to Philadelphia for a specialized surgical procedure to clear blockage of his left and right carotid arteries. It had been determined that Charles had 100% blockage of his right artery and 80% of his left artery. After the successful surgery, he had weakness on his left side but there was no paralysis. Charles needed extensive rehabilitation following his stroke and surgery. He and his sister, Loretta Kuhnert, President of the Greater Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, decided that the best place for his rehab would be at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Tinton Falls. Loretta was very aware of the excellent reputations of both the Toms River and Tinton Falls hospitals and chose Tinton Falls because it was closer to Charles home. Both HealthSouth hospitals are recipients of the Greater Monmouth Chamber of Commerce s Circle of Excellence Awards and I am very familiar with the great clinical outcomes that their patients experience. I knew that we had made the right choice for Charles rehab, she commented. I have nothing but the highest praise for the great care that I received during my six week stay at HealthSouth. Everyone treated me with such personal attention and I have the greatest respect for all of the therapists and nurses who took part in my rehab, Charles remarked. Dr. Edgardo Baerga oversaw his rehabilitation at Tinton Falls. Ami Sparano, Director of Therapy Operations at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Tinton Falls felt that Charles Rossi had made a big impression on the therapy staff. Charles Rossi is a special man. His rehabilitation progress is truly a reflection of his

6 driven dedication to stroke recovery. During a treatment session, Charles shared with me how he was a man who always expected to stay in control, always in the driver s seat. However, after his CVA, and while at HealthSouth, Charles decided to relinquish some control and allow the therapists, who he called the experts, take charge and lead the way to his recovery. Charles listened carefully to the therapists instructions and followed along with his disease self-management program, and ultimately, is a true success story, she commented. HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospitals in Tinton Falls and Toms River are Joint Commission certified in disease specific care in Stroke Rehabilitation. For more information on our stroke rehabilitation program or other services offered at HealthSouth visit our website at

7 Backpack Safety Guidelines for All Ages Backpacks have become the accessory of choice for most school age children and college students. Many adults also utilize a variety of backpacks for recreational and business purposes. As popular as backpacks are, most people do not know how to choose a properly fitted backpack or how to load, lift, or wear them correctly. This essential accessory can be a literal pain in the back if not selected properly. We at HealthSouth care about you and your family s well-being and are pleased to offer these tips on choosing the right backpack for you and your children: Choosing The size of a backpack should fit the size of the person. When adjusted properly, the top of the backpack should be at, but not above, shoulder height, and the bottom should rest just at the curve in the low back area. It should not rest more than 4 below the person s waistline. Choose a lightweight model. The backpack should have multiple compartments, not only from front to back, but also from top to bottom. This will allow the weight to be distributed more evenly. The width of the backpack should not be wider than the torso. The side of the pack that rests against the back should also be padded. The shoulder straps should be wide, well padded and adjustable. A waist belt should be on the model you choose, as it helps to distribute the weight more evenly. Shoulder straps belt connecting the front of these straps also assures better fit and distribution of weight as long as it is fastened. Reflective material on the backpack also provides additional safety during dusk and nighttime use. Filling A filled backpack should not weigh more than 15% of a person s body weight. The safer choice would be that the weight of the backpack when filled should not exceed 10% of body weight. Therefore, a person who weighs 100 pounds should not carry a backpack weighing more than 10 to 15 pounds.

8 The heaviest items should be closest to the person s back. If the weight of items will exceed the recommended amount, to balance the load some items should be held in one s arms. Use the straps on the sides and/or bottom to help consolidate and secure the load, allowing it to stay closer to the body. Putting the Backpack On The person should face the backpack and bend at the knees to grab it, hold it close, and then lift it using the legs. One strap should be put on at a time and using two straps is always a better and safer choice. The straps should be adjusted so the pack fits snugly to the back. Now, you re good to go!

9 Support Group Listing Tinton Falls Support Group Calendar The Shore Area Stroke Survivors (SASS) Group meets the first three Wednesdays of each month at 2:00 p.m. The group hosts a monthly speaker followed by discussion and refreshments. This group is very active in the community and often schedules recreational activities and events. For more information, please call (732) Monmouth & Ocean County Brain Tumor Support Group meets once a month on Saturdays from 3:00-4:30 p.m meeting dates: March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, September 10, October 1, November 5, December 3. For more information, please call (732) The Amputee Support Group meets the 2nd Monday of each month from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. This group is designed for amputees, their family members and caregivers. For more information, please call (732) The Neuropathy Support Group meets every other month on a Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. This support group is for anyone living with any form of neuropathy. The sessions include guest speakers, information and resource sharing and support. For more information or dates of future sessions, please call (908) The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Support Group meets monthly and is available to anyone who is living with or caring for a person/child who has been diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder. All family members and concerned friends are welcome to attend. For schedule of meetings, please call (732) Toms River Support Group Calendar Ocean County Post Polio Support Group is based in Toms River, NJ. This Post Polio Support Group s mission is to provide information and support to polio survivors and others in the Ocean County area interested in learning more about post polio syndrome. Reach us at or The group formed in May, 2004 for this purpose. In 2012 the board will meet at Harrogate in Lakewood, NJ. All meetings are at 11:30 AM (subject to change). For more information, please visit Toms River Stroke of Luck Support Group meets every 3rd Tuesday of each month from 10:00 am 12:00 pm. The group is for stroke survivors and their caregivers and provides a guest speaker at each meeting. For more information, please call Yrma at (732) Toms River Caregivers Support Groups meets the 1st Thursday of each month from 3:00 4:00 pm. This is an opportunity for care givers to take time for themselves and be supported by others in the same or similar life situation. For more information, please call (732)

10 Toms River Amputee Support Group meets every 1st Wednesday of each month from 12:00 1:00 pm. This group is for amputees and their family members and caregivers. For more information, please call Yrma at (732) Post Polio Support Group meets quarterly. For meeting schedule and more information, please call Susan Gato at (732) Neuro Reassessment Consultation is for people who have suffered a stroke, brain injury, have Parkinson s, MS, or other neuromuscular problems. If you feel that your ability to function has declined over a period of time, a free phone consultation is available with a nurse Case Manager to determine if additional therapy may benefit you. For more information, please call (732)