Orthopedic Unit

.........................................................................................................................

Atherton Healthcare is participating in the clinical rollout of the Homeward Bound Orthopedic Program. In the Homeward Bound Orthopedic Program the plan of care and modalities are established on day one. This means the resident will be on their way to recovery from the moment they enter our facility. Anyone in need can take advantage of our program which operates six days a week.

Separate from the long term care residents, we have opened an entire wing on the third floor devoted fully to the orthopedic program which includes 15 private rooms. Each room is specially equipped with an electric bed, wheelchair, walker, a raised toilet seat, and commodes. We also have a CPM machine as needed for range of motion.

Each room is elaborately decorated to resemble a hotel like ambiance with attention to every minor detail. This particular wing has a minimum of one scheduled RN and three CNA’s per shift. The program is lead by our Medical Director, Steven T. Woolson, Orthopedic Surgeon.

Atherton’s approach to orthopedic recovery is a systematic program guided by teamwork and clinical pathways. Our unique approach to orthopedic recovery includes a variety of disciplines: Physicians and Specialists, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Restorative Nursing, and Social Services.

Providing excellent quality of care to our residents requires an interdisciplinary team approach. Nursing is integral in coordinating the care between therapy, physicians and the entire staff. They schedule follow-up appointments with physicians and provide emotional support, which is important to any recuperation process.

Nursing also helps manage the control of pain related to a fracture. This along with our use of the latest state-of-the-art Rehabilitation equipment with our manual and adjunct therapies helps us achieve excellent positive results and outcomes.

Accelerated Care Plus (ACP) Advanced Modality Program is a physical agent modality based set of treatment protocols and state of the art equipment designed to specifically benefit our geriatric population. The equipment, protocols and therapist education and training provide a significant advantage in the management of those clinical conditions that have historically been the most difficult for therapists to effectively treat and achieve improved functional outcomes.

.................................................................................................................................................................

The most common clinical conditions related to orthopedic diagnoses and co-morbidities that generally respond well to the ACP program protocols include:

Pain: Ultrasound, Shortwave Diathermy and Electrical Stimulation increase the pain threshold through release of natural opiates at the spinal cord level and higher, reduce acute and chronic inflammation by increasing cellular membrane permeability and rate of blood flow, and help resolve the underlying cause of the pain.

Edema: Ultrasound, Shortwave Diathermy and Electrical Stimulation are found to reduce acute and chronic inflammation and edema by increasing capillary density, increasing cell membrane permeability, increasing blood flow, and decreasing pain and joint stiffness associated with edema.

Contractures: Ultrasound, Shortwave Diathermy and Electrical Stimulation increase soft tissue extensibility by heating the soft tissue, which allows the collagen fibers in the joint capsule, ligaments and tendons to stretch without tissue damage, decrease pain, and reduce tone in spastic muscles, resulting in significant decreases in contractors.

Wound Care: Ultrasound, Shortwave Diathermy and/or Electrical Stimulation accelerate healing of vascular and pressure ulcers by managing the symptoms associated with wound ulcers through reduction of inflammation, pain and edema, and facilitate granulation of the wound bed to promote new tissue growth.

Urinary Incontinence: Electrical Stimulation retrains and strengthens the pelvic floor muscles through use of surface electrodes that deliver electrical impulses through the skin to the nerves that innervate the pelvic floor muscles. Electrical stimulation is effective after other attempts at retraining have failed, such as pelvic muscle exercises, prompted voiding, urge inhibition training, and medication management.

.................................................................................................................................................................

While physical agent modality based treatment has been around for years, these newly developed protocols and state of the art equipment are designed around the most recent treatment developments and research to provide efficacious and cost efficient results. It assists the clinician in treatment decision making and provides the resident being treated with resolution of some of the most challenging health conditions. This new program continues to confirm Atherton Healthcare is commitment to excellent and premier resident care.

Along with our ACP programs, manual and adjunct therapies, each resident receives therapy based on the residents specific needs in order to return to their prior level of function and prior living setting. As part of the Homeward bound program, each resident goes through a 2-3 day process where he/she has to demonstrate safety and independence in the activities which the resident would typically perform in their living setting (home, assisted living etc).

Nursing and therapy monitor this very closely on a day to day basis. Therapists also create an environment similar to their prior living set up in order for residents to have successful outcomes from the Homeward Bound Program. By creating such an environment and having a structured program, the staff at Atherton Healthcare is committed to providing excellent quality of care to the residents and in turn achieving successful outcomes.

Please do not hesitate to call us with questions (650) 325 - 8600.

Thank you for your support.

.................................................................................................................................................................

// General Services  // Orthopedic Unit  // Rehabilitation Services