Van Munching Acute Rehab Unit

Physical Therapy During Your Stay

As part of the required therapy on the Van Munching Unit, a physical therapist will work with you to increase your balance, strength, and coordination with the goal of maximizing functional mobility and independence while promoting safety.

Some of the tasks you work on with your therapist may include:

• Getting in and out of bed.
• Standing up from a chair.
• Walking and stair training.
• Exercises and activities to improve strength, balance, coordination, and endurance.

Ahead of discharge, physical therapists work with your interdisciplinary team to make recommendations for assistive devices, additional services after discharge, and appropriate next level of care.

Occupational Therapy During Your Stay

As part of the required therapy on the Van Munching Unit, an occupational therapist will help improve your ability to do daily activities. Your therapist will conduct an assessment and develop a treatment plan based on your cognition, vision, motor planning, and coordination. Our therapists focus on purposeful, goal-directed activities including self-care skills such as bathing, dressing, self-feeding, and toileting, implementing lifestyle modifications as needed.

Ahead of discharge, the therapists will assess the patient’s needs and any barriers. You and your care partners may receive training for the use of adaptive equipment to improve safety and independence.

Speech-Language Care During Your Stay

If needed as part of your therapy on the Van Munching Unit, a speech-language pathologist will help treat problems that affect your ability to swallow, communicate, or think, particularly due to diagnoses including aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and cognitive impairment. Our goal is to help patients improve their quality of life before returning home or to the next level of care.

Together with the patient and their care partners, our specialists provide the skills and strategies for the patient to:

• Express their wants and needs.
• Engage socially.
• Solve problems in order to complete household, community, and work-related tasks.
• Eat and drink safely.

Rehab Nurses During Your Stay

Registered nurses on the Van Munching Unit have specialty training to provide 24/7 monitoring and direct care. They also support rehabilitation self-care strategies and educate patients in health care management. Our care goes beyond nursing with an interdisciplinary approach that includes working closely with patients, their families, physicians, therapists, aides, and social workers.

In addition, Van Munching Unit nurses also:

• Specialize in assisting patients affected by chronic illness and disability through health restoration, maintenance, and promotion.
• Function as care coordinators, providing medication, diabetes, nutrition, and stroke education during the patient’s stay.
• Serve as patient advocates and provide input into the effectiveness of the treatment plan on an ongoing basis.