DELAWARE COUNTY REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – OFFICIAL MAGAZINE6

A n illness or injury can turn anyone’s worldupside down. Losing the ability to move,

think, or speak as you once did can not onlylimit activities, but can also lead to loss of self-confidence and a reduced quality of life.The good news is, rehabilitation can help youbecome whole again and return to everyday living as quickly and as safely as possible.

“Rehab is essential to achieving recoveryfrom acute illnesses, injuries, and chronicconditions,” says Michele Zappile, DPT, OCS,a physical therapist and director of rehabili-tation at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital. “Rehabprofessionals help each patient work towardstheir goals, whether it’s restoring motion and function, regaining ability to performdaily tasks, decreasing pain, or preventingdisability.”

Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital has a team whoprovides rehab services in both inpatient andoutpatient settings. Physiatrists (physiciansspecializing in rehab medicine), rehab nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists, all worktogether and with the patient’s primary physicians to develop and administer the mostappropriate treatment. Therapists hold specialty certif ication in the areas of orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, woundtherapy and hand therapy.

ACUTE REHABILITATIONFOR COMPLEX NEEDS

The Acute Rehabilitation Unit at MercyFitzgerald Hospital provides services for patients who have suffered functional loss due to disabling illness or injury, such as stroke, neurological disorders, non-trau-matic spinal injuries, hip fracture, and heartdisease.

Patients undergo intense physical andoccupational therapy at a minimum of threehours a day at least five days a week. Theyhave access to social services, specializedcare by a physiatrist, 24-hour nursing care,and comprehensive pre-discharge education.

REHAB PROFESSIONALS AT MERCY FITZGERALD HOSPITALHelp Patients Regain Motion, Function and Renewed Grasp on Life

In the Acute Rehab Unit at MercyFitzgerald Hospital, OccupationalTherapist Janet Bronstein (right)watches as Marilyn Wagner, who isrecovering from back surgery, safely puts on socks.

Jim Maher practices passing an exercise ball to NurseAnne Marie Dallago asPhysiatrist Dr. Pasquale Colavitalooks on in the Acute Rehab Unit at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital.

WINTER 2015/2016 DELAWARE COUNTY REGIONAL NEWS 7

• Mercy Bariatrics, a leading weight loss program that has helped more than 1,300 people in the region attain a healthier lifestyle. The hospital is a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence®.

• Mercy Cancer Center, the one-stop access point to cancer experts and state-of-the-art treatments for all cancers, including breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers.

• Endoscopy Center with patient-friendly amenities and featuring Direct Access Endoscopy.

• Mercy Heart and Vascular Program, the award-winning service line comprising medical and interventional cardiology, 24/7 cardiac cath labs,the Heart Valve Center, cardiac electrophysiology, cardiac surgery, andcardiac rehab. The hospital is an accredited Chest Pain Center with PCI.

• Convenient access to quality diagnostics and imaging services, includingwalk-in services for lab, screening mammography and X-rays.

• Advanced surgical sub-specialties, such as cardiac surgery in affiliationwith the Penn Heart & Vascular Network and neurosurgery in affiliationwith the Jefferson Neurosciences Network.

• Comprehensive behavioral health programs and a Crisis Response Center.

• Emergency care, including Mercy EMS and an Emergency Department that handles 42,000 cases annually.

• New Primary Care & Multi-Specialty Center, the central location of several primary care and specialty physician practices.

• Advanced Wound Care Center with specialized healing techniques for chronic and diabetic wounds.

• Mercy Pharmacy, a full-service retail pharmacy open to the public.

• Free programs for the community, including educational programs,screenings, support groups, and smoking and tobacco cessation classes.

For more about what Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital has to offer, visit www.mercyhealth.org/fitzgerald or call 1.877.GO MERCY.

“Our overall goal for each patient is thatthey successfully return to home with skills and confidence in using those skills,”says Joanne Agnew, PT, director of the inpatient rehabilitation program. “Dischargeplanning begins as soon as patients enterthe unit, with the patient and familyinvolved in every aspect of the process.”

The majority of patients who are discharged from acute rehab go home, as opposed to nursing homes or other facilities. Patients report high satisfactionrates, with 99 percent saying they would recommend the program at MercyFitzgerald Hospital.

OUTPATIENTREHABILITATION FOR ONGOING CARE

Outpatient rehab at Mercy FitzgeraldHospital includes physical, occupational,speech, audiology and cardiac rehab services aimed at improving musculoskele-tal and neurological conditions. Specialtyservices include aquatic therapy, hand therapy, hearing and balance services, custom foot orthotic casting, pediatric

rehabilitation, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) evaluation and treatment.

A certified cardiac rehab program helpspatients recover from various types of heartdisease and heart procedures.

Certified lymphedema treatment is alsoavailable. A formal cancer rehab programthat addresses the common side effects fromcancer treatment will launch in 2016.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE The rehab team at Mercy has an impact

beyond the physical accomplishments thattheir patients reach.

“It’s common for patients to praise thequality of care and the compassion theyreceived from our rehab professionals,” says Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital ExecutiveDirector Susan Cusack. “It’s inspiring tolearn how well they’ve recovered and gaineda new lease of life, in great part due to themeaningful work of our rehab team.”For more about rehabilitation services at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, please visit www.mercyhealth.org/services/rehab-therapyor call: 610.237.2573 for Acute Rehabilitation,610.237.4231 for Outpatient Rehabilitation.

BECAUSE YOU DESERVE MOREIN ADDITION TO REHABILITATION, MERCY FITZGERALD HOSPITALIS HOME TO A RANGE OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES:

Members of the cardiac catheterization team arepictured in one of two upgraded cath labs that are

available 24/7 at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital. Recently,the team added complex electrophysiology ablation and

carotid artery stenting to its capabilities.

Mercy Oncologist Dr. EugeneChoi (left) is one of manymembers of the cancer careteam that patients haveimmediate access to in theMercy Cancer Center at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital.

Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital has providedhigh-quality healthcare to the communitiesin Delaware County for more than 80 years.