|
 “Our entire rehabilitation team is dedicated to the goal of helping
people home after a disabling injury or illness, such as stroke or a
spinal cord injury,” said Teresa Reiser, director of rehabilitation
services at Memorial Medical Center and a physical therapist. “This
recognition is a reflection of our staff’s unparalleled commitment.”
This is the fifth consecutive time since 2007 that Memorial Medical
Center has earned three-year CARF accreditations for five separate
rehabilitation programs. The hospital earned its first CARF
accreditation in 1980.
The nonprofit hospital received accreditation in the following
areas:
· Inpatient rehabilitation (hospital): adults, children and
adolescents. Memorial is one of 29 rehab programs in Illinois to
earn this accreditation.
· Inpatient rehabilitation (hospital) – stroke: adults. Memorial is
one of 10 in Illinois to earn accreditation.
· Inpatient rehabilitation (hospital) – brain injury: adults,
children and adolescents. Memorial is one of three programs in
Illinois to earn accreditation.
· Inpatient rehabilitation (hospital) – spinal cord: adults.
Memorial is one of two programs in Illinois to receive
accreditation.
· Outpatient rehabilitation: adults, children and adolescents.
Memorial is one of four programs in Illinois to earn accreditation.
Healthcare organizations undergo a rigorous peer review process and
must demonstrate to a team of surveyors during an onsite visit their
commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable,
accountable and of the highest quality, Reiser said. Surveyors
visited Memorial in March.
[to top of second column] |
Memorial Medical Center is one of only 18 rehabilitation programs in the nation
and the only one in Illinois to hold these five specific program designations,
Reiser said. Only 78 rehab programs worldwide hold four or more inpatient
program accreditations.
“We help our patients overcome barriers so they can successfully return to
productive daily activities,” Reiser said.
Patients of Memorial Rehab Services receive intensive treatment from an
interdisciplinary team, which includes physicians, nurses, physical therapists,
occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists, therapeutic
recreational specialists, dietitians, pharmacists, social workers and chaplains.
“Our goal is to provide the very best in rehabilitation care, and this
accreditation from CARF is validation that we are succeeding,” said Dr. David
Gelber, medical director for Memorial Inpatient Rehab and a neurologist and
rehabilitation medicine specialist with Springfield Clinic.
Founded in 1966, CARF is an independent, nonprofit organization that accredits
programs and services in behavioral health and medical rehabilitation, among
other clinical programs, throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.
[Michael Leathers, MHS]
 |
