Short-term Rehab Increases Rate of Recovery After Surgery
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania (PRWEB) April 04, 2017 -- As warm weather brings increased outdoor activity, adults may discover new or reoccurring joint pain. For those considering joint replacement surgery, a stay at a short-term rehab center can speed up the recovery process. Justin Thomas, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, discovered the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, a continuing care retirement community, was the ideal place to recover from knee replacement surgery.
Inpatient short-term rehab is beneficial for individuals recovering from a total joint replacement or amputation, stroke, cardiac events, respiratory condition, diabetes complications or an infection.
“Short-term rehab after a hospital stay is the best way for a patient to return to his or her highest possible level of functioning as fast as possible,” said John J. Mast, M.D., C.M.D., Lancaster General Health physician, who also sees patients at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown. “Patients receive close medical supervision and medical management, and we find individuals have a lower rate of readmission than they would if they went straight home.”
A typical day for a short-term rehab patient may include upwards of three hours of physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, if needed. Therapists may use a variety of therapeutic modalities and adaptive equipment, ranging from the Nintendo® Wii Balance Board to the OmniStand Dynamic Balance System. In between therapy sessions, patients dine, attend recreational programs and rest. The average stay for a patient at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown’s Transitional Care Unit for short-term rehab is under three weeks.
Justin Thomas, 46, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, had knee replacement surgery in September 2016. He was familiar with Masonic Village at Elizabethtown’s Transitional Care Unit for short-term rehab, but wasn’t certain if it was ideal for someone his age. He discovered the services and the other patients aided his recovery.
“Masonic Village was the best choice I could’ve made,” he said. “They really pushed me to the point where I learned to trust myself. They made it hard me for me and fun for me. It was a real learning experience. The other patients inspired me, and we encouraged each other to heal.”
Debra L. Davis, Masonic Village of Pennsylvania, http://www.masonicvillages.org, +1 7173671121 Ext: 33529, [email protected]
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