Cedars-Sinai's 28-bed Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit on 7SW helps individuals who have physical or cognitive deficits from disease or injury. The unit's mission is to help each patient regain, to the greatest degree possible, his or her ability to function and be independent and self-sufficient. Benefiting from these services are persons who are dealing with the effects of stroke, congenital deformity, brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, broken legs, polyarthritis, orthopedic conditions, neuromuscular disorders, multiple trauma or other disabling condition.

A three-year accreditation was awarded to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for the Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Programs.

The medical, clinical, managerial and support staff is committed to:

• Providing a complete range of services using an interdisciplinary team that includes the patient, family, caregivers and significant others
• Promoting Cedars-Sinai's values of reliability, respect, courtesy, compassion and hope while restoring the individual to the highest possible physical, psychosocial and vocational independence
• Protecting patient's rights to privacy, dignity and self-determination
• Compliance with the letter and spirit of all federal, state and local laws, regulations, rules guidelines and ordinances
• Ethical standards in conducting medical, clinical, research and managerial functions
• Advocating on behalf of the physically or cognitively challenged individuals within Cedars-Sinai and the community at large
• Service excellence in the rehabilitation process through patient, family and caregiver education, quality medical care and cost effectiveness

When admitted to Cedars-Sinai's Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit, patients are cared for by nurses who are nationally recognized for their excellence. Cedars-Sinai is a recipient of the national Magnet Hospital Recognition Award for nursing excellence by the American Nurses Credentialling Center. The Magnet Accreditation recognizes Cedars-Sinai as one of the top nursing services in the United States, with the most qualified nursing personnel.

To be admitted to the unit, patients must:

• Be at least 14 years of age
• Be medically stable and able to participate in a coordinated program of progressive intensive therapies seven days a week, for at least three hours a day, five to six days per week
• Be able to understand and cooperate with the goals of the rehabilitation program
• Have no major intervening psychological or behavioral problems that would prevent them from benefiting from inpatient rehabilitation
• Have the potential for making progress in ability to move, take care of themselves, activities of daily living, cognition, communication and perceptual-motor functions
• Have an identifiable place to go to when they are discharged from the Medical Center, such as home, an assisted living facility, board and care facility or retirement home

The staff of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit is committed to quality patient care that is effective, efficient and satisfactory. Program evaluations help the staff assess patient outcomes in functional independence, length of stay, discharge to a community setting and the ability to lead a productive lifestyle. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) instrument serves as a national benchmark to document the severity of a patient's disability and the results of medical rehabilitation. Using the FIM, clinicians are able to monitor changes in functional status during the full range of patient care.

Patient satisfaction is a vital component of rehabilitation therapy, since a patient's active participation in the treatment program can positively influence outcome. This functional outcome information helps the Department of Rehabilitation and Post Acute Care improve services, evaluate the clinical management of patients and meet the dynamic rehabilitative needs of a diverse, multicultural patient population.

The staff of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit provides:

• Enough information to patients and family to facilitate the decision-making process
• Enough information to patients and family members so that they understand their freedom of choice about taking part in research studies, their rights regarding do-not-resuscitate status, and their rights regarding advance directives
• Information about services not available or not covered and appropriate referrals to outside, non-affiliated organizations
• Information about current out-of-pocket expenses for the delivery of care
• Sensitivity to different cultural beliefs
• Sensitivity to different treatment practices
• Protection of the patient's privacy
• Confidentiality of information about the patients served
• Prohibition of physical and psychological abuse including humiliation, threats and exploitive actions

Therapy schedules are posted in patient rooms and at the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit Nursing Station each morning. Patients receive therapy seven days a week, with a minimum of three hours of therapy five to six days a week or as recommended by the rehabilitation care team. Therapy sessions are provided seven days per week beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 7 p.m.

Therapy tasks may include physical, occupational, speech and recreation therapies as well as neuropsychological and psychological interventions. Other therapies (such as respiratory therapy or nutritional counseling) may be included based on the patient's treatment plan.

How long a patient stays in the unit varies according his or her progress and discharge plans. The patient's diagnosis, particular needs, attitude and dedication are influential factors. Progress toward independence, support from family and friends and willingness to take part in therapies all help define a patient's length of stay. Rehabilitation may continue after the patient leaves the unit with Home Care Services, Outpatient Rehabilitation Therapy or follow-up visits with the patient's primary doctor or specialist(s).

Since patients are physically active in the unit, loose fitting clothing is strongly advised. Patients should pack the following for their stay:

• Comfortable pants
• Gym shoes or comfortable footwear
• Night clothes and robe
• Personal grooming items
• Shirts or blouses
• Sweatshirt or sweater
• Undergarments

Patient menus are designed to be nutritionally balanced and offer a wide selection of choices. Entrees include meat, fish, poultry as well as vegetarian and kosher selections. Breakfast is served at 7:30 a.m., lunch at noon and dinner at 5:30 p.m. All meals are served in the patient dining room. Patients must check with the nurse before eating food other than that served by the Cedars-Sinai's Nutritional Services. Food brought in from the outside may conflict with the patient's dietary or swallowing program guidelines.

Visits by family and friends are vital to the rehabilitation process. Since patients should not miss therapy, family and friends are asked to visit during non-therapy times (unless the visitors are actively participating in the patient's therapy). Visitation hours are from 4 to 9 p.m. daily. While visiting, and when appropriate, caregivers are encouraged to work with the staff to learn the proper rehabilitation techniques to be continued after discharge.

Visitor parking is available around the Medical Center. Patients and visitors may purchase one-week, two-week or monthly parking passes from the Parking Office. The Parking Office is located at the entrance of Parking Lot 8 on George Burns Drive between Gracie Allen Drive and Third Street. For more information, please call the Parking Hotline at (310) 423-5535 or ask a staff member for a parking brochure.

Patients admitted to the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit are asked upon admission for a completed and signed advance directive. An advance directive is a document completed by the patient in advance of serious illness. The written statement outlines how the patient wants medical decisions made. The advance directive document should be given to the unit staff upon admission, so the forms can be retained with the patient's medical record. For more information, please contact a member of the patient's rehabilitation care team. A Healthcare Advance Directive may be the most compelling evidence of the patient's wishes.

Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or age. For further information or to file a complaint, contact the Manager or the Charge Nurse, Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, at (310) 423-6765. An initial response will be provided within 24 hours.

The Rehabilitation Support Visitation Program (RSVP), designed to enhance support for individuals coping with a disability, introduces a patient or family member to another person coping with a similar disability. Volunteers with disabilities are trained by the Department of Rehabilitation and Post Acute Care and available to visit with patients after a doctor's order is received. For more information, please contact a member of the patient's rehabilitation care team.

The inpatient rehabilitation team works with patients in the areas of:

• Community reintegration: Helping patients gradually return to activities, such as eating at a restaurant, shopping, going to the movies, going to the beach and other leisure or recreational activities. Information on community services and programs to assist patients to continue these activities and make needed adjustments once they leave the rehabilitation unit.
• Support groups: Available locally, in California and throughout the nation that focus on particular illnesses or injuries.
• Home safety assessments: To evaluate how easy it is to get around and how safe the patient's home, apartment, house, motor home or residential facility will be. The team will recommend modifications, equipment and strategies for making the patient's home (wherever it is) safer.
• Dysphagia management: To assist with problems swallowing. Specially trained therapists assess your needs and develop a treatment plan. This may include changing the textures of your food or learning techniques for positioning the food so you can swallow and eat safely.
• Vision therapy: Assesses not only your ability to see, but also your ability to make sense of what you see, hear, feel, taste or smell.
• Pet therapy: Uses volunteers and specially trained dogs to help your therapy, either by providing companionship or by working on a specific therapeutic task.
• Skin and wound management: Such as learning to turn in bed every so often, relieving pressure when sitting for a long time and using skin care products or cushions and beds to reduce skin problems. Specialized wound care, which may include whirlpool or irrigation, is available for surgical and nonsurgical skin problems.
• Nutrition management: A dietitian assesses your needs for calories, nutritional content, food preferences and diet consistency. Your food needs are addressed in the context of your medical condition, such as special diets for healing wounds, managing diabetes and managing kidney and heart conditions.
• Medication management: To ensure that you and your family know what each drug is for, its possible side effects and when it should be taken.
• Prosthetic consultation services: To train you how to use a new prosthetic arm or leg.
• Orthotic services: Including splinting, inhibitory casting or custom-made supports or braces.
• Audiology consultation services: To evaluate your hearing.
• Rehabilitation Support Visitation Program (RSVP): Persons with the same diagnosis or problems are available to offer information, expertise and support.
• Patient, family and caregiver education: So that they know how to care for or help you once you leave the unit.
• Diabetic education consultation: A nurse specializing in managing diabetes works with you and your family to help you follow the program your doctor prescribes.
• Pre-driving assessment: Uses a computer-simulated driving program to test your vision, safety, motor skills and reaction time before you get behind the wheel.
• Behavior management: A neuropsychologist works with the rehabilitation team to structure your environment and encourage meaningful and appropriate behaviors.
• Bladder and bowel management: A rehabilitation nurse works with you to reach your maximum ability to control your bladder and bowels, including timing when you use the bathroom, use of prescription drugs or use of special equipment to keep you clean and comfortable.
• Self-care retraining: To relearn how to do routine daily activities such as eating, grooming, bathing, dressing and going to the bathroom.
• Mobility retraining: Including learning how to move from one surface to another. This includes moving in bed, walking with or without equipment, sitting down and getting up from a chair, getting on and off the toilet, getting in and out of the tub or shower, using a wheelchair, etc.
• Communication retraining: To express needs and wants as well as understanding the messages that are communicated.
• Cognitive retraining: To develop your ability to focus your attention, orient yourself, remember things, solve problems and other thought processes. A treatment plan will be designed for you, using strategies, compensatory techniques and the computer to help you regain your thinking abilities.
• Home management retraining: To rebuild your ability to manage household tasks such as cooking, housekeeping tasks, repairs and laundry.