If you or a loved one recently experienced a traumatic event, such as a stroke, spinal cord injury or a very serious accident, you’re most likely struggling with many emotions and questions — most notably, what happens next?
Once your condition has stabilized within the intensive care unit or other medical floor at the hospital where you were admitted, your care team may recommend inpatient rehabilitation as the next step in your recovery journey. Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the country’s top rehabilitation hospitals, recognized for its excellence in care that produces great outcomes and gets people back to living life.
If your physicians suggest inpatient therapy, or if you’re interested in learning more about the award-winning services Dodd has to offer, call 614-293-4630 to see if we can partner with you in your recovery.
How to be admitted to Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital
Whether you’re referred to the hospital or you call us directly, the Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital Services Admissions team will review and evaluate your medical needs, clinical and psychological state and social environment to ensure you meet the requirements for successful rehabilitation. We’ll complete a preadmissions assessment and work with you and your insurance provider to determine your eligibility for inpatient rehabilitation.
Your length of stay at the hospital is based on functional and medical goals, and will vary, depending on each individual's rehabilitation program. The average length of stay at Dodd is roughly 14 days.
What are the admissions criteria for inpatient rehabilitation care?
We recognize each person’s unique condition and rehabilitation goals and take those into account when we’re considering their admission to the hospital. However, generally, you may be a candidate if recovery from your injury or illness requires:
- Close medical supervision by a physician with specialized training in rehabilitation
- Participation in at least two of these services: physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology or prosthetics
- An intense level of rehabilitation – typically three or more hours of therapy services, at least five days a week
- A multidisciplinary team approach that provides comprehensive rehabilitation interventions
- Immediate access to consulting specialists, diagnostic testing and life support services, and 24/7 rehabilitation nursing care
We’ll also look at whether you’re medically stable and able to participate in the intense therapy schedule. There also should be an expectation that we’ll see significant practical improvement over time with the potential to transition you back into the community after rehabilitation.
After your admission is approved, our case managers will work with your care team on convenient transportation to the hospital, and the transfer of medical records, to ensure there’s no disruption in the continuity of your care — and successful recovery.
Inpatient rehabilitation services
Since we take a multidisciplinary team approach to therapy, we can address many of your difficulties and challenges. You may need inpatient rehabilitation interventions if your injury or condition causes you to need help with:
- Mobility
- Self-care
- Activities of daily living, such as getting dressed or personal hygiene
- Independent living skills
- Bowel and bladder management
- Swallowing
- Communication
- Cognition
- Behavior
- Wheelchair management
- Adjustment to disability (rehabilitation psychology)
How can family and friends support your inpatient rehabilitation stay?
In addition to the above criteria, we also ask that you and your family partner with us in your care. It’s beneficial to successful outcomes that you and your support system demonstrate a willingness to:
- Participate in the inpatient rehabilitation treatment plan of care
- Agree to abide by the policies and procedures of the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and Dodd
- Be involved in goal setting, ongoing treatment, modification of the treatment plan and follow-up care at all levels