Long Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH)

The Long Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) at St. Francis is a specialty hospital.  It opened in the late 1970's as a physical rehabilitation hospital and has since extended its services to encompass medically complex patients as well as acute rehabilitation patients.  It fills the gap between community hospitals and skilled nursing facilities by providing acute care for an extended stay.  The average length of stay is 25-30 days.

The hospital occupies a new wing built in 1996 with 13 semi-private rooms and 10 private rooms.

                              Complex Medical Program

• Serves adult patients who typically have multiple injuries and / or illnesses that require acute nursing care.  They receive  therapy and medical treatments as prescribed.  As they progress, patients may transfer into one of the rehabilitation programs or the less intense sub-acute medical program.

                           Acute Rehabilitation Program

• Is an aggressive physical rehabilitation program for adults disabled through injury or illness.  On weekdays, patients receive a minimum of three hours of therapy in a combination of physical, occupational, and / or speech therapy.  Weekend therapy  schedules vary with the needs of the patient.  Typical diagnoses are stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and multiple injury trauma.

                                Vent Weaning Program 

• Provides care for patients while reducing dependency upon the mechanical ventilator.  The program focuses on rebuilding strength, endurance and independence.

                                 Wound Care Program

• Offers an advanced wound healing program.  We understand that wounds follow a healing progression, yet need an individualized plan of care to help facilitate healing.  Our in-house wound management program is provided in conjunction with Northeast Surgical Associates of Ohio (NESAO) Wound Management Service.  The clinical staff of NESAO provide weekly on-site patient rounds and 24/7 on-call coverage of their wound care patients at our facility.  The wound care team utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach to wound care management that includes the availability of the expertise of our Primary Care Physicians, Rehabilitation Physicians, Registered Dietician, Physical Therapy Staff, Occupational Therapy Staff, Speech Therapist, Behavioral Medicine and Nursing Services.  Out outcomes focused clinical team follows recognized standards of care that are research based, and have achieved excellent healing rates for surgical, vascular, diabetic and pressure related wounds.  We offer multiple modalities to help facilitate the healing process including MIST ultrasound, negative pressure therapy, infrared light therapy and hydrotherapy, along with our practices of advanced wound healing.

                                     Case Management

A case manager coordinates care for all patients in the hospital.  They organize regular team meetings with the nursing staff, therapists, physicians, and counselors.  Patients and family members may be invited to participate in the team meetings.