Bridging the gap between hospital and home

Acute rehabilitation services help patients regain their mobility, strength, speech skills and overall independence

Nancy and Rich Riddle have been married for 59 years.

Nancy, 81, and Rich, who is about to turn 81, have a lot to live for, including two children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Over the last year, Nancy had become weakened due to complications from Type 1 diabetes and from two falls that resulted in broken ribs, a head injury and chronic stomach issues. After Nancy experienced back-to-back lengthy hospital stays, the couple was eager to take advantage of a resource to help Nancy ease back into her normal life — Keck Medicine of USC’s in-patient acute rehabilitation unit, which bridges the gap between the hospital and home.

Here, Nancy received physical therapy to help her walk and move safely, occupational therapy to ensure she could perform everyday activities such as getting dressed and bathing, and speech therapy to overcome the difficulty she was experiencing swallowing.

Acute rehabilitation services help patients regain their mobility, strength, speech skills and overall independence related to the tasks of daily living after a major injury, illness, surgery or long hospital stay so patients can return home and get back to their normal lives as soon as possible.

We take care of a wide variety of patients, including those who have had organ transplants and heart surgery, undergone complex spine procedures, had large joint replacements and experienced strokes.

Until recently, we housed acute rehab services at two hospitals, Keck Hospital of USC and USC Arcadia Hospital, both of which earned national recognition for excellence. But now we have merged all services into USC Arcadia Hospital’s in-patient rehabilitation unit, creating a stronger, more focused facility.

“We are thrilled that USC-AH, already a national leader in acute rehabilitation, is now home to a newly enhanced inpatient rehabilitation facility servicing the entire Keck Medicine health care system,” said Ramzi Ben-Youssef, MD, MHA, co-medical director of the USC-AH acute rehabilitation unit along with Raymond Gritton, MD. “No matter what our patients’ needs are, we are committed to supporting them not just through diagnosis and treatment, but also through the often-daunting recovery process.”

The unit, which can accommodate 30 patients, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. The therapy and patient rooms are located in a serene environment with pleasant green views.

Patients have access to a multidisciplinary team, including rehabilitation physicians, specialized therapists, case managers, social workers, nurses and psychologists. unit. “Our goal is to always help patients and their families achieve the best possible outcomes,” says Dr. Gritton.

The unit also offers home simulation labs where patients can practice the skills they may need to relearn, such as doing laundry, preparing food and stepping into a bathtub. Before patients are discharged, they are given the tools to continue rehabilitation at home. The average length of stay is 10-14 days.  

For Rich, it was a huge relief to see his wife improve daily during the stay in the rehab unit. “The staff pushed her, but in a good way; the encouragement they provided was incredibly positive,” he said. “Before when Nancy had to be hospitalized, she came home weaker. But because of the rehab, this time, she was stronger.”

Rich is hopeful that Nancy will continue to make progress, as in June, they have a very important milestone to celebrate: their 60^th wedding anniversary.

Topics