Outpatient Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) services are provided at Ouachita Rehab Center (479-394-1161) 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.

Services | Types of Patients | Facilities | Outcomes | How to Refer | News

Services:

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.

Outcomes:
Download or View the Mena Regional Health System 2005 Report Card.

How to Refer:

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]