Post-Stroke Care
| After a patient has stabilized, and is ready to begin the recovery process, they start rehabilitation.
Inpatient Rehabilitation offers an intensive and specialized program for stroke patients. This service is located on two floors of Fletcher Allen’s Fanny Allen Campus in Colchester, with 35 beds designated for acute rehabilitation patients. Here, our expert staff is focused on helping the patient regain his or her maximum level of independent function and return to independent community living. Comprehensive care is provided by a multidisciplinary team with specialized training in stroke rehabilitation and access to state-of-the-art equipment. |
Patients receive:
- daily Physiatry and/or Internal Medicine visits for management of acute medical issues
- 24-hour specialized Rehabilitation nursing
- occupational therapy
- physical therapy
- therapy from speech/language pathologists
- medical psychology
- neuropsychology
- dietary consultation,
- recreational therapy
- social work
- case management
- orthotic prescription and fitting
- spiritual services as needed
The Rehab team also collaborates with Home Health agencies and outpatient services in the community to ensure ongoing care after the patient was discharged.
Fletcher Allen offers a full range of services needed to rehabilitate stroke patients to their maximum medical recovery. Our comprehensive program includes:
- on-site Physiatry services
- physical therapy
- occupational therapy
- speech language pathology
- rehabilitation nursing
- secondary stroke prevention and education
- psychological counseling
- case management and social work as needed
Several additional specialized services are offered at Fletcher Allen and are not available elsewhere in the community, including:
- rehabilitation nursing
- wheelchair and seating evaluations including pressure mapping
- splinting for upper extremity function
- driver re-education
- orthotics and prosthetics
- monthly stroke support group
In addition to rehabilitation, patients who have had a stroke receive follow-up care from neurologists with specialized training in stroke care and Fletcher Allen’s stroke nurse practitioner who offer a weekly outpatient clinic for these patients.
Psychological care is a critical component of helping stroke patients return to functioning. Stroke patients often face depression and frustration, as well as psychological issues such as memory and language impairment which can lead to impaired judgment and awareness, and behavioral issues.
Two licensed clinical psychologists – one with specialized training in neuropsychology -- provide psychological services for stroke patients at the Fanny Allen Campus. They perform initial psychological consultations for Inpatient Rehab patients, and serve as an integral part of the care team, working closely with the patient and family, physical therapists, physicians, Rehabilitation nurses, speech language pathologists, social workers and others. These professionals also provide outpatient services at the request of the patient's physician or outpatient therapist.
Social workers provide assistance for stroke patients and their families to help them cope with any financial or family issues that arise, and transition to life outside of the hospital. They work closely with the patient, family and care team to identify what services will be needed for the patient upon discharge – such as follow-up home health care, outpatient therapy, Meals on Wheels and Lifeline medical alert systems -- and make referrals to these services.
Stroke patients, and others with life-threatening or chronic illness, benefit from Fletcher Allen’s Palliative Care Program – a comprehensive service for inpatients that helps patients feel better through aggressive pain and symptom management. Palliative Care aims to keep patients as comfortable and active as possible and assists patients at all stages of illness -- through treatment and beyond. Palliative care specialists also provide emotional support for patients facing difficult medical decisions.
