The first two have to do with the most important element: the therapists themselves.

1. Compassionate Therapists. Our therapists have a genuine passion for their patients’ rehabilitation and are driven to see them reach the highest possible level of function. There is always a window of time in which rehabilitation must take place. As patients near the closing of that window, opportunity diminishes. Caring therapists plan well, work hard and find ways to motivate patients to achieve their goals.
2. Competent Therapists. As necessary as it is that therapists have a caring heart, it is equally important that their hands (and minds) be well trained and skilled. Therapists gain much knowledge while earning their degrees and certifications, including various specialty certifications.  However, they must continue to learn and grow in order to implement evidence based techniques. Rehab team members need to have a hunger for personal and professional growth, and the rehab provider has to accommodate that hunger. When people are learning and growing, they are not only more equipped, but also more motivated to perform. So a high and ever rising standard of staff competence is essential to providing the best possible rehab experience.

The next two are related to the resources the gym has to offer.

1. Gym Space. A large and spacious primary gym with two additional more private gyms, including an OT gym and a cardio gym to accommodate patient individual needs is the ideal arrangement. A spacious gym allows multiple therapists to treat their patients simultaneously. And large open spaces provide for safe and efficient gym.
2. Equipment. Here’s a pretty good sample list of some of the equipment utilized by therapists to enhance patient outcomes: parallel bars, an ADL kitchen, short wave diathermy,  electrical stimulation, free weights, resistance bands, pulmonary care program, ultra sound, hydrocollator, paraffin, fluidotherapy, high low mat tables, orthotic devices, seating and positioning equipment, traction system, Scifit recumbent bikes, Omnicycle, Pnuemex anti-gravity walking machine, Saebo program, treadmill, standing frame, Treadwell, DME, adaptive equipment, rebounder, monofilament.  Obviously, the more equipment options a therapy team has access to, the closer the patient can come to the best possible rehab experience.

Finally, for in-patient rehabilitation, there has to be strong support systems in place.

1. In-Patient Support. Even though patients often enter a skilled nursing facility to rehab from surgery, an injury or the exacerbation of a medical condition, they also require the support of other systems, like nutrition, social services, recreation, personal nursing care, a truly multidisciplinary approach to their experience. For example, a spacious room or suite in which to receive nursing care, enjoy good food, relax, visit with family and friends, read, watch TV and sleep provide an environment conducive to recovery. When patients aren’t in their actual treatment sessions, their experiences need to support their rehabilitation. If the patients are going to achieve their prior level of function and maximize their level of independence, it will involve the networking of the various disciplines. A multi-team approach is required, not only during the patients’ stay, but after their stay as well. It is the therapy team and the teams from the other disciplines working together that assures a safe transition to home or to the appropriate environment.

The collision of interior design strategies with the reality of taking care of patients is seen among 16 million hits while conducting a Google search on healing environments.  The results ranged from the ideal wall colors in patient rooms, to a more clinical viewpoint on setting up the environment to minimize infections and falls.  Patients and their family are definite benefactors as healthcare settings work to align patient expectations, regulatory requirements and competitive pressure to provide a better experience.  Consumers have more options now from which to choose that provides comfort to the patient, provides the care they need and aligns with their life strategy.

According to Wikipedia, the goal of all healing environments is to engage patients in the conscious process of self-healing and spiritual growth.  It is the physical setting and organizational culture that supports patients and families through the stress imposed by illness.

According to “The Business Case for Creating a Healing Environment” (Malkin, 2003) written by healthcare design expert Jain Malkin and published by The Center for Health Design, the physical setting has the potential to be therapeutic if it achieves six elements:

• Eliminating environment stressors like noise, glare, lack of privacy and poor air quality
• Connecting patients to nature with views to the outdoors
• Offering choices to enhance feelings of being in control
• Providing opportunities for social support
• Providing positive distraction
• Engendering feelings of peace, hope, reflection and spiritual connection and provides opportunities for relaxation, education, humor and whimsy.

Slated to open in the Winter of 2013, Royal Park Rehabilitation and Health Center will offer what Malkin suggests in her article as the ideal therapeutic physical setting.  Patients can expect an environment that is bright and spacious and one that takes advantage of a quiet country setting with several indoor and outdoor gathering areas and spacious patient rooms, all with private bathrooms with showers and arranged in a neighborhood style.

What began as a pasture, nourishing plants and animals, will continue to evolve as a place of healing, nourishing patients as they achieve their goals.  Follow the evolution of Royal Park here and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/libertyhealthandrehab

“This award is a benchmark of distinction in the journey to providing high quality care,” said Governor Mark Parkinson, President and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “The long term and post-acute care community applauds Liberty Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on this great achievement.”

In an indication of a strengthening commitment to quality care in skilled nursing and post-acute care centers, the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program saw success rates of applicants for the Silver award double from 8 percent to 17 percent. Liberty Commons of Sanford, NC was one of 52 facilities nationwide to receive the Silver-level award this year, and only one of 2 facilities in the State of North Carolina.

“The process of applying for and demonstrating quality at this level was very intense,” said Linda Andrews, Administrator of Liberty Commons, “but being able to show the level of commitment to this profession by our staff was rewarding. I am so proud of them.”

Implemented by AHCA/NCAL in 1996, the National Quality Award Program is centered on the criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. The program assists providers of long term and post-acute care services in achieving their performance excellence goals.

The program has three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Facilities begin the quality improvement process at the Bronze level and must receive an award at each level before proceeding to the next. As a recipient of the Silver – Achievement in Quality award, Liberty Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has demonstrated systematic advancements in quality, plans for continual improvement, and sustainable organizational goals. Liberty Commons may now move forward in developing approaches and achieving performance levels that meet the criteria required for the Gold – Excellence in Quality award, which requires them to address the Baldrige Health Care Criteria for Performance Excellence in its entirety.

“Receiving this award is evidence of the staff commitment and successful leadership at Liberty Commons Nursing and Rehab, and its ability to apply rigorous standards to operations and service,” says Chick Stepahin, Chair, AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers. “Liberty Commons has been consistent in its performance and dedication to providing high-quality care.”

The awards are sponsored by AHCA/NCAL Associate Business Member My InnerView, a Web-based applied research and quality-management company that supports leaders across the entire assisted living, senior housing and skilled nursing profession with tools to measure, benchmark and improve performance. The award will be accepted by Mrs. Linda Andrews, Administrator during AHCA/NCAL’s 63rd Annual Convention and Exposition, October 7-10, 2012 in Tampa, FL.

The facility held a groundbreaking event on Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at 10:00 am. With construction to begin mid-September and scheduled to be complete in the spring of 2013, the addition will house 14 private suites and a therapy gym that will be 5 times the size of the existing gym.  In total, Three Rivers will offer 36 private and 44 semi-private suites, with private baths, 2,500 square feet of rehabilitation space with state of the art equipment to assist patients with their recovery from surgery, illness, or injury.

Patients and their family often look for a facility that offers home-like amenities that make their stay feel less “sterile.”  Three Rivers offers patients an environment that is their home away from home; with the addition, patients will be able to enjoy several indoor and outdoor gathering areas and spacious patient rooms.  The rehabilitation garden will allow a patient to “train” their body to walk on different terrain and provides a place of quiet reflection on their successes following their therapy session. “The kind of services provided within a skilled nursing facility has evolved to encompass short term rehabilitation.  We are thrilled to begin construction and to provide a rehab environment that is soothing and supports a safe discharge home.” Said Kim Kilday, Senior Director for Sales and Marketing with Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services.

The building site is scattered with earth moving equipment, bulldozers, dump trucks, the foreman’s trailer, perimeter fencing, and many construction professionals working hard to deliver on that promise.

Each day, employees, family members, and visitors at Lee County Nursing and Rehab can be heard commenting throughout the day about the latest developments on our property.

“I saw a backhoe digging a big hole today”.

“They’ve cut down some big trees at the back of the lot”.

“I drove past the new building this morning”.

“The lot looks bigger than I expected”.

“This is really happening!”

And everyone is smiling.

The warmth of those smiles can be felt for miles as they look forward to moving in to Westfield Rehabilitation and Health Center.

After years of being told that we would one day have a new building, the promise is beginning to be fulfilled.

On Thursday, April 26^th, the formal announcement was made regarding our new facility’s name and location.

As long as we’ve looked forward to this, the occasion called for a party!   Many of our nurses, therapists, and other staff members were gathered on the patio on a beautiful spring morning –smiles in abundance.  Everyone clapped and cheered as Dennis Reese, our Administrator, formally announced that construction for Westfield Rehabilitation and Health Center was about to begin.

Paul Babinski and Doug Whitman from Liberty Healthcare’s leadership team talked about where we’ve been and where we are going.  We have a proud history of serving the healthcare needs of our community.  Our new facility will be state of the art and we look forward to making a tremendously positive impact in Sanford for years to come.

Architect’s drawings of the elaborate new facility, blueprints, a map showing the new location (just a couple of miles from our current home), and the new logo were all unveiled.  A beautifully decorated cake made the party complete.

With the backdrop of our 50-year old facility, all of this was beyond exciting.

Just one week later another celebration took place on the land where our new facility will soon be built.  On May 1, the groundbreaking ceremony took place with several honored guests including the mayor of Sanford and the president of the local Chamber of Commerce.

It was another beautiful day and, again many staff members from Lee County Nursing and Rehab were on hand for the event.  Several members of the corporate leadership team were present along with many friends from the healthcare and business community.

It was great to be standing where we will be working in approximately one year.

These are exciting days at Lee County Nursing and Rehab!

Mary has paired up with a local surgeon and has been observing EGD procedures. EGD’s are diagnostic procedures that visualize the esophagus, stomach and duodenum in order to diagnose structural or functional problems. By observing this procedure, it has allowed Mary to view the actual anatomy involved in swallowing and some of the conditions causing the problem. It has helped her understand and visualize some of the frequent diagnosis seen on the EGD. Mary says, “It has deepened my knowledge and has been a benefit to the residents I treat as I am now able to answer more of their questions regarding their diagnosis”.

Swallowing problems most commonly can be caused by a stroke, but at times other conditions exist such as acid reflux and loss of muscle tone. Signs of swallowing problems may include, frequent choking on food, pain when swallowing or reoccurring pneumonia. If you experience any of these problems, you should see your health care provider.

Whatever the problem you or your loved one may be experiencing, you can rest assured that the rehabilitation team at Liberty Commons of Columbus County has your best interest at heart! For more information about the rehabilitation services at Liberty Commons of Columbus County, contact Amber Robinson, Rehab Director or Sherri Worrell, Admissions Director at 910-642-4245.

Coming from a fishing community, we know it is “bad luck” to leave a boat unnamed. We decided to take ballots with suggested names from families, residents, and staff. Among the many votes taken and ballots counted, one name rang out above the rest and with good reason. We named the boat the “Miss Mabel.” In loving memory of Ms. Mabel Cox, who came to us first as a family member of a resident, followed by many years as a devoted volunteer, until she came to stay with us as a resident. We had 20 wonderful years with “Miss Mabel” who touched the lives of so many with her caring, giving heart. Each day the flowers grow brighter reassuring us that Miss Mabel is still with us and will always remain an important member of our family.

Deborah Chisolm, a certified nursing assistant (CNA), has quietly made an impact on the patients at Liberty Commons of Johnston County for the past 6 years. It seems fitting that I am spending time with her to learn what it takes to be a certified nursing assistant because February 22nd was her anniversary with the company. Besides learning the ins and outs of providing direct care to short term rehabilitation patients, this is an honor for me because Deborah is a nominee for the Fabulous Fifty through the NC Healthcare Facilities Association for District 5 and one of eight individuals from the Liberty family to be nominated this year.

When Deborah is asked what she enjoys most about being a certified nursing assistant, she tells me, “I enjoy the people. To do this job, you have to be a people person and need to be caring and understanding. Sometimes you go into a room and the patient is sad or upset and it’s important to help them through it.” Caring for patients require attention to the mind and the body. Remembering the things a patient was able to do prior to their injury or illness has the chance of leaving a scar bigger than any physical complaint. So the staff acts as a support to recognize what they are able to regain to enjoy a fulfilling life. While learning about a patient’s prior level of functioning and activities they enjoyed in the past helps the clinical team to develop goals for a safe discharge home, it is living in forward motion that drives someone to grow stronger and to find the courage to succeed.

The rehab unit is the busiest part of the building with a high volume of admissions and discharges and that never stops Deborah from learning about what her patients like and need. “I just ask them.” This strategy may seem simple; but it is effective. As a marketer, we are taught to allow the other person to do the talking and to use our listening skills to link a solution to the needs of the customer. This is exactly what Deborah does. An ounce of communication is a great preventative tool!

Deborah spends some early morning time with Jane, a patient who enjoys wearing make-up as much as she does. They spend quality “girl time” chatting about the brands they both use. Jane tells Deborah to “do my eyebrows like yours!” Every morning Deborah helps Jane put on her lipstick and eyes. No matter what our age as a woman, if we have lipstick on – the outfit is complete. Jane is ready to conquer the day.

Time management is critical to any job and for Deborah, it is no different. She works on the short term rehabilitation unit and tells me she begins her shift with getting the early morning therapy patients ready for the day then works her way to those who will have therapy later in the morning. This entails assisting a patient with dressing and bathing, making their bed and helping with basic requests they may have. Deborah explains it is important to do everything before leaving the room and going back as the patient needs assistance. I comment to Deborah that her unit is so quiet. This environment is normal, a given attitude of the staff at Liberty Commons of Johnston County. When staff anticipate needs of patients then it is easier to maintain an efficient and calm environment.

The sense of awareness that Deborah possesses would make any family member confident in the care their loved one receives. As Deborah and I stand in the hallway, she appropriately is watching for any call bell lights to go off. This does not mean that Deborah is not focused on our conversation; it means that she has refined the skill of multi-tasking. Seeing a call bell light, Deborah exclaims “Oh she is ready,” and proceeds to a room where she assisted a patient to the bathroom. Every patient is afforded the dignity and respect they demand and the staff encourages the patients to do as much as they can independently. The patients know the staff is close by should help be needed.

“We help one another” Deborah explains of the staff at Liberty Commons of Johnston County. I begin to recognize a pattern that forms around the staff who has been nominated for the Fabulous Fifty Award. There truly is an appreciation for fellow staff, for teamwork, and a love of people. According to the North Carolina Division of Health Services Registry, there are 121,684 actively licensed Certified Nursing Aide I’s. To find out about more about training to become a certified nursing assistant, contact your local community college or go to http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/hcpr/nat.html for educational information from the NC Division of Health Service Regulation.