Rehab Center At Ashlar Improves Services Through Partnership

By Kendra Bobowick

Ashlar of Newtown has enhanced its rehabilitation services following its partnership with Rehabilitation Associates of Connecticut.

Joel Feigenson, MD, medical director of Ashlar’s short-term rehab program and rehabilitation physician, said, “This partnership gives anyone needing comprehensive physical, occupational, or speech therapy even more reason to choose Ashlar of Newtown for their rehabilitation and recovery.” He hopes the community is aware of the partnership.

“The facility is in the community and people should know it is different now. It was good before but it’s better now,” he said.

The partnership provides state-of-the-art care benefiting patients, staff, and families. Ashlar can now tap into additional expertise of licensed and experienced therapists and professionals. Dr Feigenson explained, “This is adding to the depth of experience that covers all rehabilitation areas we deal with.”

He said Rehabilitation Associates of Connecticut has a “large, mature, and experienced staff.”

Ashlar’s capabilities have expanded since the partnership. He said, “It allows us to do programs using skills that might not ordinarily be found in a typical sub-acute setting.”

The rehab staff now at Ashlar are Rehabilitation Associates of Connecticut employees who add “tremendous skill” to patient care, Dr Feigenson said.

According to its website, Rehabilitation Associates of Connecticut “[has] been providing rehabilitation services to people with disabilities for over 25 years. We offer a variety of therapies including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language services, clinical social work and nutrition services. In addition to individual therapies, we offer rehabilitation programs for people with strokes and neurological problems, orthopedic injuries…”

The site also notes a collection of other maladies that can be treated by “licensed, caring and experienced” clinical staff. More information about the rehabilitation services can be found at rehabtherapies.com. Rehabilitation Associates of Connecticut has offices in Fairfield, Milford, Stratford, Shelton, and Westport.

Established in 1979, association provides services to individuals in towns in and around Fairfield County.

Ashlar’s rehabilitation program oversees the sub-acute 30-bed unit and accredited facility.

The unit offers physical, occupational, speech, dietary, and other forms of therapy, Dr Feigenson explained. The on-site medical staff associated with the rehabilitation center is also an advantage, he said.

Along with the partnership are other changes that will improve Ashlar’s rehab facility: converted space will contain patients’ rooms, therapy, medical staff, and a gymnasium all in one location.

“By moving it all, we’re able to have the head therapist, and therapist in charge of a patient’s care all together,” he said. “We’re moving all therapy into the rehab unit and that facilitates the connection between the staff members to resolve problems on the spot,” Dr Feigenson explained. “It allows a true interdisciplinary approach to patient care.”

Without the renovated space patients would have to get on an elevator and travel to the gymnasium for therapy, he said. He “absolutely” agrees with bringing therapy to the patient rather than the other way around, he said. Patients are spared from traveling throughout a facility.

“People spent a lot of time being transported back and forth and they lose a lot of time,” he said. “It’s a terribly inefficient way of providing health care.”

The family’s involvement is also beneficial to a patient.

Dr Feigenson said, “The family needs to know how to manage a family member or loved one when they get home; they need to know what is helpful or what interferes [with recovery].”

Discussing their approach to patient care, Dr Feigenson said, “We try to meet with the patient and family very soon after admission and set goals.” Regular meetings follow throughout treatment to be certain therapy is on target. The short-term rehab program provides an array of services to help individuals recover the best level of functioning following injury, illness, or surgery.

In addition to the inpatient program, therapy is now being offered to individuals on an outpatient basis as well.

Ashlar of Newtown is an affiliate of Wallingford-based Masonicare. For additional information call 364-3211 or visit the Masonicare website at www.masonicare.org. The new rehab area is on track for completion in January.