Outpatient Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational
Therapy (OT) services are provided at Ouachita
Rehabilitation and Fitness Center (479-394-7979) and include evaluation,
treatment, and education after an accident, illness or injury. Services
are provided for orthopedic, sports, industrial, neurological and
balance rehabilitation. Aquatic therapy and hand rehabilitation
including custom splint fabrication are also provided. The Fitness
Center offers stacked weight machines, free weights, and cardiovascular
equipment with membership open to the public.
Occupational Therapy: Also known as “OT”, occupational
therapy is one of the core services available at Mena Rehabilitation
Center. At a basic level, OT focuses treatment on the recovery
of function necessary to engage in daily activities such as bathing,
grooming, eating, dressing and/or toileting. More advanced OT
may focus on restoring function or changing the way a person prepares
meals or performs housework when illness or injury does permanent
damage. For more information about occupational therapy, visit
www.aota.org.
Physical Therapy:
Also known as “PT”, physical therapy is another core
service available at Mena Rehabilitation Center. At a basic level,
PT focuses treatment on restoring strength, muscle control, and
range of motion for activities such as sitting, standing, using
a wheelchair and/or walking. More advanced PT may focus on a person’s
ability to walk or use a wheelchair outdoors over uneven surfaces
or getting into and out of vehicles when limitations exist due
to illness or injury. For more information about physical therapy,
visit www.apta.org.
Rehabilitation Nursing:
Rehabilitation nursing is one of the core services available at
Mena Rehabilitation Center. Rehabilitation nurses base their practice
on restoring function by managing complex medical issues, collaborating
with other specialists, providing ongoing patient/caregiver education,
setting goals for maximal independence, and establishing plans
of care to maintain optimal wellness. For more information about
rehab nursing, visit www.rehabnurse.org.
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation:
Also known as PM&R, physical medicine and rehabilitation services
are also core services at Mena Rehabilitation Center. PM&R
is provided by physicians specializing in or with extensive experience
in physical rehabilitation. PM&R physicians focus on resolving
medical issues while overseeing therapy services in order to restore
functional independence after serious illness or injury. For more
information about physical medicine and rehabilitation, visit
www.amrpa.org.
Speech Language Pathology:
Also known as “Speech Therapy”, speech language pathology
is available at Mena Rehabilitation Center in addition to the
core rehabilitation services. Speech therapy may focus on restoring
a person’s ability to comprehend and respond to conversations
or written information, remember daily activities and routines,
and solve problems or think critically regarding simple and/or
advanced tasks. Speech therapy also plays a vital role in restoring
or modifying swallowing functions in people who choke on food
or drinks, as well as those who aspirate, or unknowingly digest
food or fluids to the lungs instead of the stomach. For more information
about speech therapy, visit www.asha.org.
Medical Social Work:
Also known as social services, medical social work is available
at Mena Rehabilitation Center in addition to the core rehabilitation
services. Social services focus on linking people with illness
and injury to resources available to help them overcome barriers
often faced in community settings during or after participation
in a rehabilitation program. In addition, social services assist
with resolving family/caregiver support issues in order for people
to resume residence in the most appropriate setting for the person
to be safe and successful. For more information about medical
social work, visit www.naswdc.org.
Other Services:
There are also a number of behind the scenes services at Mena
Rehabilitation Center. These services include pre-admission assessment
coordination, community education, payment system and outcomes
reporting, and general administrative support.
Types of Patients:
Age:
Patients at Mena Rehabilitation Center (MRC) range in age from
16 to 90 years and older. While there is a big difference in ages
served, the majority (70%) of patients at MRC in 2004 were between
the ages of 71 and 90. Less than 2% of patients were 50 years
or younger, 20% of patients were between 51 and 70 years, and
about 9% of patients were older than 90 years.
Diagnoses:
Mena Rehabilitation Center (MRC) treats patients with a wide variety
of illnesses and injuries. Almost any diagnosis resulting in decreased
ability to perform basic daily activities may be appropriate for
rehabilitation at MRC. In 2004, about 12% of all MRC patients
were admitted for stroke, another 12% for neurological disorders
such as Parkinsonism and multiple sclerosis, 15% for arthritis,
and 15% for hip fractures; the rest of the patients had various
types general weakness, elective joint replacements, burns, head
injuries, and other types of trauma.
Functional Status:
As with all inpatient rehabilitation facilities, our patients
must experience a decline in function in order to qualify for
the intense level of physical rehab services available at Mena
Rehabilitation Center (MRC). We measure patient function in eighteen
different areas, which include usual self-care tasks, walking
or wheelchair mobility, getting in and out of bed and chairs,
and mental function. In 2004, our average patient was about 50%
independent with these tasks at the beginning of the rehab program.
Some patients however had become totally dependent on others prior
to admission while others had only minimal impairments that led
to their need for rehab. In general, MRC can provide rehab services
to people who will not be able to successfully return to their
preferred living setting because of their decline in function.
Rehab Need:
At a minimum, Mena Rehabilitation Center requires that patients
need hospitalization and each of the core rehabilitation services
(physical therapy, occupational therapy, physical medicine and
rehabilitation, and rehabilitation nursing). In addition, the
patient must require at least three hours of combined therapy
services (physical therapy, occupational therapy, and/or speech
therapy), at least five days per week. This is a relatively intense
level of service, but it may include anything from basic strengthening
exercises to supervised participation in community outings.
Facilities:
Patient Rooms:
Mena Rehabilitation Center has 12 semi-private patient rooms.
Each room has basic cable television, local phone service, seating
for family, and message boards to assist with the rehabilitation
process. Each room has a handicap accessible bathroom with shower
and call system points near the bed and toilet so that staff can
be notified when you are in need of assistance.
Therapy Gym:
Mena Rehabilitation Center’s (MRC) therapy gym is where
the majority of the physical and occupational therapy treatments
occur. Within the 950 square foot treatment area, MRC has a wide
variety of therapy and exercise equipment to meet the diverse
needs of our patients.
Dining/Activity Room:
Patients at Mena Rehabilitation Center have the opportunity to
resume certain aspects of everyday life during their rehabilitation
program by utilizing our dining/activity room. Patients are able
to escape their hospital beds and relax after therapy, enjoy meals
at our dining tables, play the piano, watch the game on a big
screen television, or simply sit and visit with family and friends.
It is very beneficial when rehabilitating from illness or injury
to be able to enjoy some of the familiar aspects of home.
Training Apartment:
Mena Rehabilitation Center’s training apartment is set up
much the same as a hotel room with more similarities to the home
environment than can be found in our regular patient rooms. Patients
are able to practice getting into and out of a bathtub and a regular
queen-size bed. As patients get closer to returning home, they
are encouraged to spend an evening or two in the training apartment,
with or without their spouse, in order to build confidence or
to identify other issues that need to be addressed prior to leaving
the rehab program.
Training Kitchen:
In addition to the training apartment, Mena Rehabilitation Center’s
training kitchen allows patients to practice some of the more
advanced tasks that they will need to be able to perform upon
returning home. They can learn ways to perform housekeeping chores
and meal preparation while dealing with their injuries or illness,
and can do so under the supervision of trained experts. Successful
experiences in our training kitchen often translate to the confidence
necessary to safely return home.
Swim-Ex Pool:
Available through Ouachita Rehab and Fitness, the swim-ex pool
is occasionally utilized for Mena Rehabilitation Center patients.
Aquatic therapy can be very beneficial to rehab patients and whenever
appropriate, our patients are able to receive this service.
Therapy Garden:
A nice addition to the Mena Rehabilitation Center facilities has
been the construction of the therapy garden. Again, in an effort
to simulate the home environment, patients are able to practice
walking on an uneven flagstone patio and lawn, climbing stairs
to our deck overlooking a 100 square foot planter bed, and getting
up and down from picnic tables, porch swings and Adirondack chairs.
In addition, our therapy gardens are wheelchair accessible and
patients have the opportunity to receive horticulture therapy
as part of their customized rehabilitation plan. Some of the vegetables
harvested from the therapy garden are also used in the training
kitchen, which is often a familiar activity for our patients.
In General:
In general, to refer a patient to Mena Rehabilitation Center,
just call: (479) 243-2303
Typically within 24 hours, our clinical assessment coordinator
will perform a free evaluation, usually in person if within 150
miles of Mena. We will work with the patient and/or family as
needed to facilitate the process.
From Home:
If you or someone you know believes Mena Rehabilitation Center
(MRC) will be of benefit for recovery from any sort of illness
or disability, you may contact us directly for a free evaluation
to determine if MRC is your best option. In most cases our clinical
assessment coordinator will come to your home and evaluate you
in person. If our program is appropriate, we will help you make
arrangements to come to MRC so you can begin your rehabilitation
program. While a specific order from your physician is not necessary
for an evaluation, we do recommend keeping your regular doctor
informed of your participation.
From Assisted Living:
Just like at home, if you believe the rehabilitation program at
Mena Rehabilitation Center (MRC) will be of benefit to you or
someone you know, just give us a call. We will make sure that
you (if not you, then the person in question) are willing to come
in for our program and visit you in person for a free evaluation.
If you meet our criteria and our program will be of benefit, we
will help you make arrangements to come to MRC so you can begin
your rehabilitation program. We will also work with the assisted
living facility however possible to coordinate your return after
completion of the rehabilitation program. Again, it is not necessary
to get approval from your physician, but we do recommend keeping
your regular doctor informed of your participation.
From Physician’s Office:
If your physician, while seeing you for a scheduled check-up,
believes the rehab program at Mena Rehabilitation Center is right
for you, our clinical assessment coordinator can come to your
physician’s office to perform a free evaluation to determine
if you meet our criteria and if you will benefit from our program.
Your doctor need only call and we will get the process under way.
From Nursing Home:
If the person needing rehab is a resident of a nursing home, our
rehabilitation program may still be appropriate in order to restore
function after injury or illness. The overseeing physician at
the nursing home will need to write an order for a consultation
from Mena Rehabilitation Center in order for our clinical assessment
coordinator to visit the nursing home and perform an in-person
evaluation to verify eligibility and need for our rehab program.
Just talk to your nurse or doctor to get the process started.
From Hospital:
Just like in a nursing home, your doctor will have to write an
order for Mena Rehabilitation Center to evaluate your eligibility
and need for our rehab program. Our clinical assessment coordinator
will likely visit you in the hospital prior to approving your
rehabilitation stay.
Mena Rehab in the News:
Download or View the following
items:
Mena Rehab News Providers Edition [3rd Qtr 2005] Mena Rehab News
Consumers Edition [September
2005] Mena Rehab News Consumers
Edition [October 2005]
Mena Regional Rehab Staff Receive Horizon Health Corp. Award [Mena
Star] HorizoNews [date]
