Glen Cove Hospital is opening an $11 million, $15,500-square-foot, physical medicine and rehabilitation unit that specializes in treating patients with neurological conditions such as brain injury, Parkinson’s disease and stroke.
The acute-care rehab unit features 28 beds, of which are for patients with Parkinson’s disease. There are 24 private rooms and two double rooms. The short-term Parkinson’s disease rehab program comprises multidisciplinary, targeted interventions to help patients improve function and independence.
“The new state-of-the-art physical medicine rehabilitation unit was designed to provide a holistic therapeutic environment sensitive to the needs of patients with neurological deficits,” Kerri Anne Scanlon, executive director at Glen Cove Hospital, said in a statement.
“Individualized care is coordinated by a team of highly specialized rehabilitation medicine physicians, rehab nurses, specialists and therapists, to help patients reach their highest level of function and quality of life,” she added.
Designed to have a spa-like atmosphere, the unit features soothing paint colors, accent tiles, artworks and lighting to create calming environments for patients with diverse neurological needs. All spaces include age-friendly features for older adults such as large wall clocks, handicap-accessible restrooms, nonslip flooring, handrails among other elements.
The unit will utilize virtual reality and gaming therapy system to help patients in their therapeutic recovery, focusing on repetitive tasks in a fun and innovative way. Patients wear a headset with sensors on their body that interact with the immersive virtual environment. Activities could include emphasizing strengthening, coordination, balance, postural control, visual-spatial skills, as well as cognitive skills such as memory and sequencing, command response and attention.
“Equipped with cutting-edge therapies, the new rehabilitation unit meets the growing needs of our patient community with complex, high-acuity brain and neurological disorders,” Dr. Susan Maltster, chair of the hospital’s department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, said in a statement. “We are dedicated to providing the highest degree of quality, innovative care to our patients.”
The unit will include a unique Parkinson’s rehabilitation program led by neuro-rehabilitation physician Dr. Lyubov Rubin. It offers evidence-based specialty rehabilitation to people with Parkinson’s disease. In addition to receiving physical, occupational, speech and cognitive therapy, the use of dance therapy and virtual reality will aim to restore function lost by patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Adina Genn
Source link
