Acute Rehab FAQS


We know that entering a rehabilitation program may come with questions. Get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our programs.

Your Visit


When you are admitted to inpatient care at the Sam Karas Acute Rehabilitation Center, you are taking a very important step in your recovery. One of our first steps is to create a treatment plan that best meets your needs. We include you and your family in this process as much as possible. We value personalized care, and make every effort to help you reach your goals.

Visitors are welcome while you are staying with us. We encourage your family to take part in your therapy and recovery, whenever possible. Visiting hours are flexible, and we will help you and your family determine the best times to visit. Family members can stay at our facility with you with approval from your health care team. We do encourage family members to visit after 4:00 pm on weekdays so their loved one can focus on their therapy sessions.

We work hard to make sure our patients are as comfortable as possible when staying with us. We know that your environment is important when it comes to healing. Bringing items from home can help make your stay more comfortable.

What to Bring
Clothing:

  • 3-4 pants: casual or sweatpants
  • 3-4 shirts: loose fitting, T-shirts or polos
  • 5 undergarments
  • 4-6 pairs of socks
  • 1 pair of sturdy, rubber-sole shoes with low heels
  • 1 light jacket or sweater (optional)
  • 1 bathrobe (optional)

Hygiene Items:

  • Shaving kit, if needed
  • Comb or brush
  • Deodorant
  • Makeup, if desired
  • Dentures and denture adhesive

Miscellaneous Items:

  • Insurance cards and photo ID
  • Eyeglasses/contact lenses and cleaners
  • Hearing aid(s) and batteries
  • Pictures of family/friends/pets, if desired
  • Books or magazines, if desired
  • Favorite blanket and/or pillow, if desired

All of your personal items should be clearly marked or labeled with your name. Please do not bring items of value or large amounts of cash.

When You Leave
Once you have completed the program, we will work with you to help plan your next steps. We will give you a complete discharge plan when you leave. This plan will include any continued care and rehabilitation. Your plan may include the following:

  • Evaluation of patient by rehabilitation team
  • Discussion with the patient and/or their representative
  • Determining if caregiver training or other support is needed
  • Referrals to a home care agency and/or appropriate support organizations in the community
  • Recommendations for specialized equipment needs
  • Ongoing appointments with primary care doctors and specialists
  • Recommendations for setting up a home environment
  • Arranging for follow-up appointments or tests

Becoming a Acute Rehab Patient


When a patient arrives at Sam Karas Acute Rehabilitation Center, they have already taken an important step toward recovery. Though the road to recovery can sometimes feel overwhelming, our compassionate and highly trained staff is ready to help you every step of the way. Acute rehabilitation is the highest level of rehab available. Each patient is screened using Medicare criteria to determine acceptance to the program.

Patients can be referred from home, from a hospital, or from another facility.
Learn more about making a referral >

General Rehabilitation Program


No matter what challenge you are facing, our skilled and diverse team is ready to help you recover. Our inpatient program features many therapies, and is designed to get you back on your feet. We serve adult patients who are medically stable, but who need intensive therapy after an illness, injury or surgery.
Learn more about becoming a patient >

While staying with us, you work with a talented multidisciplinary team. Our team includes specially trained nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, social workers, speech-language pathologists, a therapy activity coordinator, and physiatrists. A physiatrist is a doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. We also have a hospitalist on staff, and hospital services are available to all patients 24 hours per day. Family members are an important part of our team and are encouraged to participate. Family members are welcome from the initial assessment to the daily treatment plan and discharge planning.

Program Recovery Goals
Our goal is to make sure each patient reaches their potential when recovering. To reach our goal, the physiatrist coordinates the efforts of a team of professionals. This team will help you identify and reach your goals. Common problems that can benefit from rehabilitation include:

  • Balance and coordination impairments
  • Inability to swallow
  • Inability to move in bed or from one place to another
  • Inability to walk
  • Inability to perform activities of daily living such as eating, grooming, dressing, bathing, and homemaking
  • Cognitive/perceptual deficits or speech/language problems, in conjunction with physical limitations
  • Inability to work or function in the community due to physical impairment
  • Weakness or limited motion in arms, legs, or trunk

Treatment Team
In addition to the physiatrist and rehabilitation nurses, the following team members are always available to participate in developing a patient’s personalized plan of care:

  • Physical therapists
  • Occupational therapists
  • Speech/language pathologists
  • Social worker
  • Physician consultants
  • Registered dieticians
  • Psychiatrist
  • Respiratory therapists
  • Wound nurse
  • Orthotic/prosthetic specialists

Family members are an integral part of our team and are encouraged to participate from the initial assessment to the daily treatment regimen and discharge planning.
Learn more about our team >

Medical Care
In addition to your core team, your medical care is directed by a doctor who is specially trained in rehabilitative medicine. Each patient will be assigned to a medical doctor who will assist the physiatrist in your overall care during your stay. This ensures medical stability and the best possible recovery.

Some common patient goals that the physician and nursing team strive work toward include:

  • Medical stability
  • Pain management
  • Wound monitoring and prevention of skin breakdown
  • Recovery of normal bladder and bowel function
  • Education of patients and caregivers to promote functional independence
  • Reintegration of the patient back to their community

In addition to our General Rehabilitation Program, we offer a Stroke Rehabilitation Program for more specialized care.
Learn more about our Stroke Rehabilitation Program >

Services
Our program is focused around three main therapies: physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy. Specific treatment plans are tailored to the individual needs and goals of each patient. These services are structured to give patients the skills they need to get back home and into their community. All patients receive at least two of these therapies. Patients do at least three hours of therapy per day, five days per week.