Saint Anthony’s Plans to Expand Rehab Unit
(February 3, 2012) – Individuals needing inpatient rehab care will soon find private rooms in the area’s only Acute Rehabilitation Unit (ARU) located at Saint Clare’s Hospital, 915 East Fifth Street, Alton.
“As the area’s only certified inpatient rehab unit, our ARU at Saint Clare’s is already well-regarded by physicians in the local area, as well as St. Louis hospitals,” says Sue Curfman, AVP of Post Acute Services. “Plans for renovation were recently approved by the State that allows us to now offer private rooms.
“The transition to private rooms will provide an enhanced healing environment for our patients undergoing rehabilitative care.”
The renovation includes private rooms, new wall coverings and flat screen televisions for the patient rooms. The project should be completed this Spring.
Licensed for 30-beds, the rehab unit is led by Bijoy Hegde, M.D., a board certified Physical Medicine specialist. Dr. Hegde directs the care for each patient and works closely with primary care physicians and a team of rehab clinicians. “We have a strong, coordinated interdisciplinary team approach with weekly care conferences to coordinate and individualize treatment,” Curfman says.
Patients receiving inpatient rehab care often have injuries/illnesses such as stroke, fractured hips, total joint replacements, brain and spinal cord injuries and multiple traumas. 
Inpatient rehab is also used for health conditions like Guillain-Barre Syndrome, balance issues, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease.
All patients on the ARU receive three hours of therapy a day, a minimum of five days per week.
“Our inpatient rehab program is designed to meet the individual needs of each patient and additional services can be recommended to ensure a person’s complete recovery,” says Curfman. “In addition to our physical and occupational therapies, we have an excellent balance/fall prevention program and stroke support group, plus speech and voice therapies.”
The ARU utilizes state-of-the-art rehab technology that is only available at Saint Clare’s. Called Bioness, the technology is designed to provide functional and therapeutic benefits for individuals affected by central nervous system injuries and disorders such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and others.
“The technology is quite remarkable,” says Curfman. The functional electrical stimulation improves voluntary movement in injured or impaired limbs. “It may also re-educate muscles, prevent muscle loss, maintain or increase joint range of motion, prevent stiffness in joints and increase local blood flow.”
With a focus to return individuals to independence with exceptional outcomes, the rehab team at Saint Clare’s sees over 80% of patients returning to home as opposed to a nursing home. “Our Mission Partners are committed to getting individuals back into their routines after an injury or disease as quickly and independently as possible.”
For information about the inpatient rehab program at Saint Clare’s Hospital, please call 618-463-5137.