Shore Health System’s Requard Center for Acute Rehabilitation was recently awarded accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for a three-year period. CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value and optimal outcomes of rehabilitation services provided in hospitals and nursing homes.
The Requard Center for Acute Rehabilitation opened at The Memorial Hospital at Easton in 2007. The center is the only acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital on the Mid-Shore and one of only two such rehabilitation facilities on the Eastern Shore.
CARF accreditation is the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to a rehabilitation facility. To earn this three-year accreditation, the Requard Center for Acute Rehabilitation’s staff participated in a rigorous peer review process and demonstrated to a team of CARF surveyors during an on-site visit that its programs and services meet the highest quality standards.
In his letter to Shore Health System, Brian J. Boon, PhD, president and CEO of CARF, said, “This achievement is an indication of your organization’s dedication and commitment to improving the quality of the lives of the persons served. Services, personnel and documentation clearly indicated an established pattern of practice excellence.”
Christopher Parker, MSN, RN, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer for Shore Health System, says, “Achieving this accreditation is a testament to the clinical excellence and team work that patient’s experience every day at the Requard Center for Acute Rehabilitation. I am proud of how this accomplishment reflects on the skills and professionalism of our physicians, nurses and therapists.”
Acute inpatient rehabilitation is a comprehensive, hospital-licensed program of coordinated services focused on patient evaluation, treatment and education. The Requard Center operates under the direction of Andrew McCarthy, MD, a board certified neurologist and skilled rehabilitation specialist recognized as a pioneer in the field of rehabilitation medicine. Working with Dr. McCarthy is Stephen Wills, MD, who is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The center’s healthcare team also includes specialists in rehabilitation nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, case management and psychology.
The Requard Center for Acute Rehabilitation is a “hospital within a hospital” and provides hospital level care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An individual’s intensive medical rehabilitation program of care is managed daily by a rehabilitation physician and includes around the clock rehabilitation nursing and physical, occupational and speech therapy services. Family members play an active role in all aspects of a patient’s recovery.
“We’re here to treat the person, not the disease,” Dr. McCarthy says. “Our job is to help patients and their families rise to the occasion and see that life goes on after something bad happens. Receiving CARF accreditation validates what we have known since we opened the Requard Center two years ago – our team is dedicated to meeting the highest standards of clinical care while sending messages of hope and confidence to patients and their families. ”
Individuals are admitted to the Requard Center from home and from acute care hospitals, nursing homes and emergency rooms. The center’s program addresses the medical and rehabilitation needs of individuals aged 18 and older who are experiencing impairments from many health conditions, including but not limited to stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Guillain-Barre, multiple trauma, amputations, brain injury, spinal cord injury, hip fracture and burns.
The Requard Center consists of a specialized rehabilitation gym, a dedicated life skills learning center and an activities of daily living apartment, which is equipped with a refrigerator, stove, sink and laundry. Private and semi-private patient rooms and a multi-purpose dining area are designed to facilitate independence and socialization.
Clinical outcomes are studied and compared to national averages to assure that the Requard Center’s performance is at or better than expected. The center’s team maintains contact with the patient following discharge to assess progress and offer assistance. Individuals who require ongoing rehabilitation can continue with home care and outpatient rehabilitation through Shore Home Care and Shore Rehabilitation Services.
“One hallmark of a CARF accredited program is ongoing interaction with all stakeholders to evaluate what services are needed and to assess that services are being provided in ways that are most helpful to patients and their family members,” says Bill Roth, senior director for Shore Rehabilitation Services.
The Requard Center recently completed a series of town hall meetings with patients and families, community members, physicians, other healthcare providers who practice within and outside of Shore Health System. Insurance companies representatives were also invited.
Roth, who is a CARF surveyor, has traveled the country for over 15 years on behalf of CARF to survey other rehabilitation hospitals. He adds, “The importance of obtaining feedback and ideas from meetings and daily interactions assures us that we hear about how what we do is and continues to be of value to our patients and to our community.”
For more information about The Requard Center for Acute Rehabilitation, call 410-822-1000, ext. 5845 or call toll free at 866-414-2067. Learn more about Shore Rehabilitation Services at www.shorehealth.org/services/rehabilitation.shtml.