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Frequently Asked Questions

FAQEvents leading to your admission to this rehabilitation facility have impaired your mobility and your ability to care for yourself. Our staff will be working with you to plan a rehabilitation program that will help you regain as much function as possible during your inpatient stay in our facility. You and your family and/or significant others will be involved throughout the rehabilitation process. The staff will be asking for your input when setting treatment goals, planning discharge and when arranging for follow-up therapy and medical care.

 

How is a Rehabilitation Hospital Different from an Acute Care Hospital?
In the acute care hospital, most treatment was provided at the bedside with constant monitoring and observation due to the acute medical status. As a patient at the Rusk Institute, you should no longer require this intensity of medical care. You will be actively participating in daily treatment sessions that are located on various floors within the Rusk Institute.

How is a Rehabilitation Hospital Different from an Sub-Acute Program Offered in a Nursing Home?
The Rusk Institute, an acute inpatient rehabilitation facility, provides services to patients who require an inpatient level of care –- 24-hour oversight by medical and nursing professionals. Patients admitted to this facility:

  • are physically able to participate in a therapeutic interdisciplinary program for a minimum of three hours per day
  • have potential to make functional gains within a reasonable amount of time
  • will benefit from an acute, short-term inpatient stay with definite, measurable goals
  • The sub-acute programs at nursing homes are recommended for patients who are not physically able to participate in three hours per day of active therapy. Also included in this population are patients whose course of rehabilitation is predicted to be longer-term.

How can my hospitalized family member get into Rusk?
Decisions on admission to Rusk are based on a number of factors including: diagnosis, medical stability, medical necessity for an acute hospital stay, motivation to participate in and ability to tolerate 3 hours of therapy per day, prior level of function, expectation for progress, and viable discharge plan. The first step is to speak to his/her social worker or case manager at the hospital to request that a referral be made to Rusk Institute. The clinical and discharge staff at the referring hospital will guide you in your discharge decisions. Once the referral is received, patients are accepted or denied based on admission criteria. If you are being transferred from another medical facility (i.e., another hospital), your physician and social worker will help to coordinate your transfer. If you would like to come visit beforehand, the Rusk Admitting Office will help set up a tour to answer as many of your questions as possible. Call us at (212) 263-6034.

How do I get into Rusk from home?
Home patients need to be seen as an outpatient by a Rusk doctor (physiatrist) who will make recommendations for admission, if appropriate. Physiatrists may also offer recommendations on outpatient therapy. Call 212-263-6037 for the Rusk Physician Referral Service.

When Does Your Therapy Program Begin?
Your rehabilitation program begins at the time of your admission. The physician and rehabilitation nurse will begin the initial process of evaluation. Within the first 24 hours and continuing during the first several days of your admission, you will be participating in evaluation sessions provided by other members of the rehabilitation team who will be working with you during your inpatient stay. The team will design a treatment program for you based on your needs, team goals and goals expressed by you and your family/significant others. The evaluation findings will be discussed at an Evaluation Conference held during the first week of your admission. You will be given a written weekday schedule, which will include a daily minimum of three hours of therapy. Your Saturday schedule of treatments provided by physical therapy and occupational therapy will be posted at your bedside. Throughout the day, you will be expected to participate, as much as possible, in all your self-care activities.

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What is a rehabilitation team?
Patient care at Rusk is organized around a rehabilitation team, a unique concept originally developed here. With access to findings from Rusk's own renowned research, the treatment team involved in the rehabilitation process includes the patient, family members, referring physicians, and rehabilitation specialists. The team approach to facilitating recovery allows us to provide comprehensive services that address the whole person, not just a disease. Your Physiatrist (doctor specializing in rehabilitation medicine) will lead the rehabilitation team assigned to your care. The team includes your nurse, nutritionist, social worker, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist (if indicated), psychologist, and other therapies and consultants as ordered by your physiatrist. Your physiatrist and rehabilitation team members will meet weekly at a Re-evaluation Conference to discuss your progress and to set new goals if necessary.

What is the patient to nurse ratio?
During the day there is 1 nurse to 8 patients with the nursing aides providing assistance to the nursing staff.

What does 3 hrs of therapy consist of?

Each patient’s acute rehabilitation program is individualized based on his/her needs. All patients receive physical and occupational therapy and, as appropriate, speech and swallow therapy, horticultural therapy, recreational therapy and/or neuropsychology.

How Will You Find Out About Your Rehabilitation Progress?
After the Evaluation and Re-evaluation Conferences, your physiatrist and other team members will:

  • discuss recommendations with you and your family member and/or significan others you have chosen to be involved.
  • answer your questions
  • listen to any comments you may have concerning your treatment and discharge plans

These meetings, along with day-to-day conversations with your team members, will keep you informed of your progress.

How long would I stay at Rusk?
Length of stay in acute rehabilitation is determined by the patient’s progress in therapy, diagnosis, medical necessity, nursing needs, insurance authorization to continue therapy in the acute setting.

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What will happen when I am getting ready to be discharged?
Planning for a smooth transition to home or to another facility begins early in the rehabilitation process. Your social worker and the entire rehab team will work with you to make sure that your needs are addressed. Discharge planning involves making decisions related to:

  • where you will go after discharge from the Rusk Institute

It is important to remember that your stay at the Rusk Institute is just the first step in the rehabilitation process. Most people continue the rehabilitation process when they are discharged to their home or to a sub-acute setting. Your social worker will discuss options for follow-up services including: Home Care and home therapy, Out-patient therapy at the Rusk Institute or at other facilities or further in-patient therapy in a sub-acute facility

  • equipment you may need
  • where you will receive follow-up medical care, if necessary.

You can call the Social Work Department at 212-263-5018 if you have additional questions.

Can my family visit when I'm an inpatient?
Yes. Visiting is recommended. During inpatient rehabilitation, you will work with a team of individuals on your recovery. You are the most important part of that team, and your family, friends, and loved ones are also very important members of the team. For the protection of all patients at The Rusk Institute, please let family and friends know not to visit if they are feeling ill.

Visting hours are: Monday through Friday, visiting hours are 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays, visiting hours are 12:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Children under the age of 13 are not allowed to visit on the patient floors, although they are permitted to visit in public areas such as the Greenhouse and Pavilion.

Tell visitors that the Rusk Institute address is 400 East 34th Street, between First Avenue and the FDR Drive. Please referr to http://www.med.nyu.edu/contact/directions/parking.html for additional details on directions and parking

Can family members stay over night?
Only on the pediatric unit which is limited to one parent (or legal guardian) per night. One family member may stay with an adult patient if he/she is staying in a private room.

What should I bring with me for my rehabilitation admission?
Bring at least three changes of comfortable clothing. It is recommended that patients bring comfortable clothing (elastic-waist pants are often best), socks, sneakers or walking shoes. If a patient prefers personal pajamas or specific toiletries, family members should supply these as well. While we do not encourage you to bring valuables, a small amount of cash is helpful for television rental, newspapers, etc.

What insurances do you take?
We accept a large number of insurances including Medicare and Medicaid. Please call the Rusk Admitting Office to find out about your specific insurance at 212-263-6034. The Rusk Admitting Office will work with your insurance company to identify what is covered and which costs, if any, you will be responsible for. We do accept patients who pay for their own medical care.

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