Care Steps

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Physical Therapy

• Comprehensive assessment including:
  • Strength - hip abductors and extensors, knee extensors, ankle
  • AROM - bilateral upper and lower extremities, trunk, and neck
  • Sensation - using Semmes Weinstein monofilaments
  • Adaptive equipment - ambulation, bedroom and bathroom
  • Balance assessment - Tinetti, Berg, Timed up and Go, Stand and Reach
  • Assessment of footwear patient normally wears
  • Goal planning with patient and family
• Comprehensive care plan:
  • Specific treatment strategies tailored for the individual patient
  • Use of equipment: foam pad, uneven surfaces, cones, etc
  • Written and pictured home exercises taught to the patient and, when appropriate, to care givers
  • Re-assessment and updates as certain goals met or deemed unattainable
  • Reasonable amount of visits to achieve goals
  • Reinforcement of safety teaching - which activities the patient can practice independently and which must have supervision
  • Updates to referring physician

Occupational Therapy

• Comprehensive assessment including:
  • Home safety assessment
  • Low vision screening - if necessary
  • Bathroom/bedroom - check for necessary modifications
  • Observation of patient performing normal ADL's
  • Goal planning with patient and family
• Comprehensive care plan:
  • Low vision education - demonstration with appropriate lighting
  • Recommendations about needed adaptive equipment
  • Use of adaptive equipment
  • Instruction in home modification - removing clutter, wires, etc
  • Reasonable amount of visits to achieve goals
  • Updates to referring physician

Skilled Nursing

• Comprehensive assessment including:
  • Review of all body systems
  • Review of all prescribed medication and over the counter medicine taken by the patient
  • Blood pressure supine, sitting, and standing
  • Interview about history of dizziness or syncope
  • Goal planning with patient and family
• Comprehensive care plan:
  • Medication teaching including side effects and taking at correct time of day
  • Reasonable amount of scheduled visits to achieve goals
  • Updates to referring physician