Select Specialty Hospital - Pittsburgh / UPMC

Stroke, brain injury or degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's or multiple sclerosis can impact communication, memory, decision-making and daily activities limiting patients' ability to care for themselves.

Cognitive rehabilitation focuses on restoring a prior level of function, educating patients on how to compensate with memory strategies while training families and caregivers on how to help the patient be successful.

Our team of occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists are experts in evaluating and treating patients experiencing these deficits.

When patients are recovering from a critical illness, we identify opportunities, named The Five Whys, for them to improve to accelerate their ability to go home. The Five Whys include eating, vent liberation, mobility, speaking and cognitive rehabilitation. To learn more, please visit: https://www.selectspecialtyhospitals.com/why-choose-us/five-focus-areas-of-recovery/

Women fall more often than men and experience three-quarters of all hip fractures, according to the CDC.

Fall-related injuries can drastically impact mobility and/or be life altering. The good news? Most falls are preventable.

Start with these simple tips: be aware of medication side effects, exercise to stay strong and check your vision regularly.

Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) play an important role in helping patients recover during their stay at critical illness recovery hospitals. SLPs evaluate and treat patients who have speech, communication or swallowing disorders.

Our SLPs also evaluate patients to determine if they require a communication device. They may recommend traditional or high-tech devices that enhance speech and language skills. Patients with a tracheostomy tube have lost their ability to speak because of the tube. SLPs will often recommend use of a speaking valve which can give patients back their voice allowing them to once again express themselves with their family and care team.

To learn more about the Five Whys, please visit: https://www.selectspecialtyhospitals.com/why-choose-us/five-focus-areas-of-recovery/

For many patients, just swinging their feet over the bed feels impossible. But with this simple motion, their mobility journey begins toward a return to daily life.

Our team is dedicated to advancing patient mobility, providing a comprehensive regimen that includes twice-daily exercises, chair time, therapy-assisted movements and walking sessions, even for patients on a ventilator if feasible.

We’re here to support our patients and families every step of the way.

As we observe Critical Care Recognition month, we’ll dive more into each of the Five Whys. To learn more about the Five Whys, please visit: https://www.selectspecialtyhospitals.com/why-choose-us/five-focus-areas-of-recovery/

Strokes can occur at any time and affect people of all ages and backgrounds. There are three ways to protect yourself from a stroke:

Assess your risks. If any of the following apply to you, consider yourself at increased risk for stroke: smoking, family history, obesity, inactive lifestyle, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol or circulation problems.

Know your numbers. Visit your physician regularly for updates on your blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index. They can also give you advice on how to improve your numbers.

Know the symptoms. Remember the acronym BE FAST, which stands for Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech and Time. If you experience any of these symptoms for five minutes or more, call 911.

Today we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving and protecting our country. May we never forget their courageous acts in the fight for freedom.

Stress is a common experience for everyone, but the American Psychological Association reports that women experience stress more often and at a higher rate than men. Take a look at the following ways to better cope with daily stress.

Envision waking up for the first time on a ventilator. Being kept alive by machines can be unsettling and scary. Now, fast forward and imagine the relief and swell of emotion at being taken off the ventilator, and for the first time in weeks being able to utter "I love you" to loved ones.

That is the goal of the critical care team.

Freeing a patient from a ventilator is a combined effort involving pulmonary physicians, respiratory and speech therapists, and physical and occupational therapists. Ventilator liberation is a procedure that gradually decreases a patient’s reliance on the machine. It slowly allows a patient’s lungs to assume more of the breathing function and ultimately frees the patient from the ventilator.

The care team uses various tools and treatments, based on a patient’s need, to assist in resuming speech and swallowing functions. These tools could include speaking valves, inspiratory and/or expiratory muscle trainers and various breathing techniques. The goal is to help our patient breathe independently again and return their ability to speak, eat and drink on their own, all while providing excellent care.

As we observe Critical Care Recognition Month, we’ll dive more into each of the Five Whys. To learn more visit: https://bit.ly/4axs6K8

Patients experiencing dysphagia—difficulty swallowing—will undergo evaluation and assessment by a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP). Additional evaluations may be recommended and performed. That might include a modified barium swallow study—a type of swallowing x-ray—or a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation where a scope fitted with a tiny camera is used to assess how well a patient swallows.

Treatment for dysphagia is then tailored to the patient’s specific type or cause of their swallowing disorder. Based on the findings, an SLP may recommend one or more of the following treatments.

When patients are recovering from a critical illness, we take the approach of identifying opportunities, named The Five Whys, for them to improve in order to accelerate their ability to go home. The Five Whys include eating, vent liberation, mobility, speaking and cognitive rehabilitation.

Malnutrition can be a significant problem in hospitalized patients and is associated with poor outcomes, higher medical costs and increased readmissions.

Our nutrition team focuses on these main components of nutritional care:

- Assessment: Perform a head-to-toe nutrition-focused physical exam to identify malnutrition.

- Nutrition support: Offer nutritious meals, oral nutritional supplements, modular proteins and fibers to treat and strengthen the patient.

- Family education: Provide nutritional recommendations for patients and their families upon discharge, including instructions on modifying food textures to help make food safe to swallow.

As we observe Critical Care Recognition month, we’ll dive more into each of the Five Whys. To learn more about the Five Whys, please visit: https://bit.ly/4axs6K8

May is , time to celebrate and spotlight the importance of women’s health. Managing stress to help improve the well-being of women is key.

Here are some ways to handle daily stress and practice self-acceptance.

Stroke is the leading cause of serious long-term disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the CDC points out, approximately 80% of all strokes can be prevented simply by making lifestyle changes and monitoring risk factors.

While you cannot control certain risk factors — age, race, family history — you can change elements of your lifestyle such as diet and exercise. Read more to learn how you can lower your risk of stroke.

Reacting quickly during a stroke can positively impact a patient’s rehabilitation. Kaitlyn Ners, senior clinical liaison with Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation – West Orange, answers frequently asked questions about stroke.

Read more about stroke and stroke recovery here: https://bit.ly/3QOb9UV

As we conclude Hospital Week, we’re shining a spotlight on each team member’s important role in caring for our patients daily.

We asked our hospital teams to share a time “when caring came together” at their location. Here’s what they said.

To learn more about Select Medical’s network of hospitals, visit: https://www.selectmedical.com/about-us/

Approximately 1 in 25 adults annually experience dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing in the United States, according to the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). For those patients, texture-modified diets are commonly prescribed as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to improve swallowing safety.

Although texture-modified diets are safe, many patients following these diets find them unsatisfying, leading them to consume less food and drink. That is due to the lack of variety and sensory appeal in texture-modified foods and liquids.

Select Medical adopted the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) in 2020. IDDSI was created to standardize the terminology and testing methods used when describing the texture and thickness of food and drink. The Select Medical IDDSI Task Force is committed to creating positive change for dysphagia patients across its hospital network. Transitional solids – foods that start as one texture and change to another based on moisture or temperature change – can help support therapy goals. They also support the nutritional and psychosocial needs of patients with dysphagia and other health conditions that make it difficult to swallow.

Transitional foods include a range of items such as wafers, cheese puffs and veggie straws. These foods require minimal chewing or tongue movement. Once they mix with saliva or water, they break apart but retain some consistency in the mouth.

Select Medical’s Specialty Hospitals piloted the use of transitional solids in 2023. During that time, patients not only gained more autonomy over their snack options but also benefitted from increased exposure to different food textures. Gradually, as their swallowing improved, they were also able to feed themselves.

The 2023 pilot was successful and Select Medical is slated to roll out a transitional solids program across its Select Specialty hospitals later this year.

We celebrate National Hospital Week with great pride as we recognize the dedicated professionals who provide exceptional, quality care at our critical illness recovery and inpatient rehabilitation hospitals.

From coast-to-coast, our care teams focus on restoring the quality of life for patients and their families during the recovery journey. Please join us in honoring their compassion and dedication.

Learn more about Select Medical’s network of hospitals at: https://www.selectmedical.com/about-us/

As we continue to mark Nurses Week, here are some inspiring insights and experiences from nursing professionals across Select Medical’s network of hospitals.

To learn more about the network of hospitals, visit: https://www.selectmedical.com/about-us/

Life after stroke can mean accepting and adjusting to your current condition. Things have changed and it’s normal to feel that moving forward is difficult. You are not alone. Every year more than 795,000 in the United States have a stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here are some helpful tips and things to keep in mind after a stroke.

Select Specialty Hospital

When you’re in the hospital, there’s nothing more reassuring than having someone come check on you. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) monitor patients throughout their shift for any change in condition and report back to the registered nurse (RN).

As part of the health care team, the LPNs contribute to the implementation of the patient’s care plan and assist with the evaluation of the patient’s response to nursing interventions.

The certified nursing assistant (CNA) role is vital to hospital teams. CNAs are responsible for assisting patients with activities of daily living, like eating and bathing, and monitoring vital signs, measuring intake and output in addition to other responsibilities.

Registered Nurses (RNs) are the backbone of health care delivery, according to the American Nurses Association.

“Nursing integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alleviation of suffering through compassionate presence.” (ANA (2021). Nursing:Scope and Standards of Practice, Fourth Edition, p.1)

Throughout Nurses Week, we’ll be highlighting our nursing team across the Select Medical network of hospitals. To learn more, visit: https://www.selectmedical.com/about-us/

Today we are honoring our patients, past and present, in celebration of Patient Experience Week 2024.

Check out our patient stories below which contain one common thread – a fighting spirit is alive in all of them, across our network of post acute care hospitals and physical therapy centers.

To learn more about Select Medical’s network of hospitals, visit: https://www.selectmedical.com/about-us/

Select Specialty Hospital

Therapy animals serve an important role in our patients’ recovery process. These animals can assist with exercises that help improve a patient’s mobility and functioning as well as providing comfort and companionship. In recognition of their fur-tastic skills, here are some Paw-Stars that support our care teams and patients daily in our hospitals.

To mark Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, we caught up with patients previously featured in our success stories. John Esposito, Jr., who lost both legs in an accident at 31, was recently honored with Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation’s yearly Triumph of the Human Spirit Award for his positive attitude, fighting spirit and remarkable progress.

Read John’s continuing story here: https://www.kessler-rehab.com/patients-and-caregivers/success-stories/john-esposito-jr-update/

To learn more about Select Medical’s network of hospitals, visit: https://www.selectmedical.com/about-us/

We are inspired every day by the dedication of occupational therapists (OTs) nationwide. They are instrumental in helping patients on their path to recovery and independence.

An amputation is a life-altering event and can require many adjustments for the individual. A good support system is key for the amputee to create a new normal.

Here’s how to best support a loved one with an amputation:

Select Specialty Hospital

Occupational therapists (OTs) in our critical illness rehabilitation hospitals work with patients and their care teams to design a personalized treatment plan based on each patient’s condition and goals. OTs provide therapy sessions to improve a patient’s motor skills and provide strategies to help a patient be as independent as possible.

We provide individualized care for amputees that is focused on physical recovery and addresses emotional, psychological and social challenges.

Treatment supports each patient’s goals and advances as they progress. Our program targets pre-prosthetic, prosthetic and outpatient/reintegration needs by providing:
• Expert post-surgical wound care and residual limb management
• Therapies to enhance strength, flexibility, coordination and endurance
• Management of pain and/or phantom limb pain
• Custom design, fitting and manufacture of a prosthesis to meet lifestyle needs
• Training on the use and maintenance of the patient’s prosthesis
• Psychology services to address emotional, social or behavioral issues
• Extensive education, peer mentoring and support groups for both patients and families

If you or a loved one experienced a brain injury, intense therapy can play a vital role in recovery and help get you back to an independent lifestyle.

Meet some of our brain injury patients who not only survived, but thrived.

To learn more about Select Medical’s network of hospitals, visit: https://www.selectmedical.com/about-us/

Select Specialty Hospital - Pittsburgh / UPMC

March is Brain Injury Awareness month. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, someone in the United States sustains a brain injury every nine seconds. A brain injury can affect how a person thinks, acts and feels.

Brain injuries can result from an outside force to the head, known as a traumatic brain injury (TBI), or an internal cause – known as a non-traumatic brain injury (NTBI).

Learn more about the difference between a TBI and NTBI below, and check back throughout the month as we spotlight brain injury and how we help people recover.

The determination and hard work exhibited by patients eager to return home after injury or illness is an inspirational experience.
Take it from our colleagues as they explain why working with patients is a privilege.

February marks American Heart Month, a time to raise more awareness for heart health and cardiovascular diseases.

Select Medical admits a range of cardiac rehabilitation patients recovering from a variety of conditions, including heart failure, cardiomyopathy (heart issues making it hard to pump blood) and cardiac surgery, including heart transplants. Our interdisciplinary teams – including physicians, nurses and therapists – develop individualized treatment plans focused on post-surgical healing, dietary and medication education and restoring strength and endurance. The goal is to avoid cardiac complications and provide patients with the skills, strategies and techniques needed for independent and heart-healthy lives.

Every patient’s journey toward independence is a unique experience. We are proud to have been a part of yours.

During National Patient Recognition Week, we thank all our patients for entrusting us with their care.

New Years is a time to set and reach for new goals. We hope you attain all you aspire to this year.

Happy holidays from Select Medical.

Cold and flu season is here.

A simple wash goes a long way.

Let’s keep our hands clean and help ensure a healthy community.

Peace. Joy. Happiness.

Happy holidays from Select Medical.

Select Salutes our Veterans

This Veterans Month we're spotlighting colleagues who have served our nation.

Their skills and commitment to our patients makes them an essential part of Select Medical. We are proud to have them as part of our team.