Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

I just updated Kenneth's thread. One of his doctor's feels that, once his pelvis surgery is done, he is really going to be on the road to recovery and has reached the point where NUMC has done all they can do for him. So, it is time for him to go to a rehab center for in-patient care. That move is still a few weeks away BUT it is something we need to start thinking about AND researching now. We want to tour facilities and make a decision as a family...

Here are our concerns: 1. Kenneth gets the best possible care and is HAPPY where he is staying. 2. He is close by so we can see/visit him as much as possible. I have heard there are great facilities all over the country but with Christopher and us taking care of him for Kenneth there's really no way we can put him far away. One of his major motivators is Christopher and us so we want to be able to see him pretty much every day.

There are some local places we've heard good things about: South Side for their head trauma center and St. Charles for the same... Then, we've heard there are amazing places in the City but the distance concerns us.

Do you think there will be a HUGE difference in his care/progress from a place on the Island vs. some of these places in the City??

Where can I research these places and get some stats and most of all - compare them to one another?

Anyone have any experience or personal opinions to share? ANY info we can get is so greatly appreciated.

Sorry this is a little long - thanks for reading!!

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

I do not know any of the answers, but just wanted to give you a .

Maybe check with Blu-Ize, I know she went thru something similar with Freddy, so she may have some helpful info for you.

~Keeping your family in my thoughts & prayers~

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

I do in patient rehab at a hospital, so tomorrow I will ask my PT coworkers what they feel is the best based on your situation (I won't use names or anything, just hypothetical situations) I will FM you tomorrow!

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

Are you working with any social workers at the hospital? When my grandma needed rehab they were very helpful in finding out the best centers for the specific issue. Thinking of your family.

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

DH was in NY Presbyterian when he had his accident and after 6 weeks was transferred to St.Charles. He spent 6 weeks there recovering and doing in patient therapy. St Charles came recommended from the social work at NYP.
Once he was ready he was trasferred to St.Johnlands in Kings Park where he spent the next 3 months doing in patient therapy. We were very happy with both facilities and I believe he received excellent care from both of them.
ETA: Speak with the sociall worker at the hospital, they will help direct you.

Message edited 6/1/2008 9:38:26 PM.

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

Posted by nov04libride

Are you working with any social workers at the hospital? When my grandma needed rehab they were very helpful in finding out the best centers for the specific issue. Thinking of your family.

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

My father was at St. Johnland for in patient rehab at their head trauma unit. It is located in Kings Park... take Sunken Meadow north and then east for a mile or two.

I recommended St. Johnland to Blu-ize for Freddy's rehab.

I'm not sure if this is still the case but when my father was being treated it was far and away the best place on LI. Unfortunately, at that time, many places I walked in and walked right back out. St. Johnland was clean, small and brand new at the time. Many of the therapists were young and received the latest training.

I completely understand that you want the best place for his recovery at the same time your family having easy access to him is important for his recovery as well.



ETA: Even though the social worker might suggest places to you I urge you and your family to split up and personally check out as many places as possible. Not all are specialized enough for acute head trama which is what your brother really needs. There are rehab places and then there are acute head trauma centers. I worked off the list the social worker gave me and I'll tell you she had not visited the majority of them and was shocked to hear my report of some of them.

Many of them are within nursing homes and almost always deal with elderly patients. My dad was 57 when he had his stroke and unlike most places, he was one of the oldest at St. Johnland. The center was completely separate from the nursing home on the premise... it's an entirely different wing. That also is important as your brother is so young. No offense to anyone but it would help him if he was there with people closer to his own age.

Message edited 6/1/2008 9:45:59 PM.

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

I would reccomend an acute rehab first, like St Charles, Southside or Rusk at NYU medical center over a subacute like St. Johnland, at least at first. It sounds like these places would be better able to meet your brothers medical needs.

I know its far, but Kessler in NJ is one of the best centers in the country. Sometimes the results are worth the distance and the iconvenience. Also, they have more younger patients than some of the other centers that have a large elderly stroke rehab population.

I used to work at St. Charles before I moved OOS, FM if you have any questions.

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

my dad was in st. charles and they are amazing

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

Posted by nov04libride

Are you working with any social workers at the hospital? When my grandma needed rehab they were very helpful in finding out the best centers for the specific issue. Thinking of your family.

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

wow - all great info and lots to think about...

thank you all so much and keep it all coming!

i'm taking notes and i'm going to try and search each place online. i wish there was a site where there were raves/rants to look at.

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

Hey Dani - St Johnland right in Kings Park has a fantastic reputation. It's down by the bluff...

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

i would think st. charles also. i never heard of the other places so i guess they are out west more. like others said yes het help from the staff but do look at places yourself now. so you have a head start on where he will be able to go. and also pick at least 3 places as the one you want the most might not have a bed open at the time and you will have back up

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

Dani, Check out this link for info on facilities: Link

I know NYC is a little far, but at least consider it. Medical care in the city can be so much better than out here. I had major surgery in the city and even the doctors out here told me not to have it done out here. Also, my grandmother was rehabed at Southside when she had surgery on her brain. Great place. I know some of the others as well, so if you need any other info FM me.

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

North Shore LIJ in Glencove has a great rehab center that specializes in orthopedic rehab. St. Charles is also very good.

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

my DH's uncle is dealing with some severe brain hemorraging- he's been in the hospital since Feb. 14th (North Shore in Manhasset).....they moved him to St. Charles for rehab about a month ago, but after a week (and starting to show progress!!) he suffered another bleed on the brain so he had to go back to the hospital. A young woman whose husband needed rehab raved about a hospital in White Plains to Aunt Joyce, but since he's been unstable she hasn't went to check it out. I think she also heard good things about a place in Jamaica Queens. I can try and get the names for you. sending prayers that Kenneth will be ready for rehab soon!

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

FM..

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

When we did research for my brother Rusk at NYU was one of the top places.

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH

My father was at St. Johnland for in patient rehab at their head trauma unit. It is located in Kings Park... take Sunken Meadow north and then east for a mile or two.

I recommended St. Johnland to Blu-ize for Freddy's rehab.

I'm not sure if this is still the case but when my father was being treated it was far and away the best place on LI. Unfortunately, at that time, many places I walked in and walked right back out. St. Johnland was clean, small and brand new at the time. Many of the therapists were young and received the latest training.

I completely understand that you want the best place for his recovery at the same time your family having easy access to him is important for his recovery as well.



ETA: Even though the social worker might suggest places to you I urge you and your family to split up and personally check out as many places as possible. Not all are specialized enough for acute head trama which is what your brother really needs. There are rehab places and then there are acute head trauma centers. I worked off the list the social worker gave me and I'll tell you she had not visited the majority of them and was shocked to hear my report of some of them.

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

As a former employee of St. Johnland, I can't say enough good things about them. (I left to be a SAHM, not for any other reason and I miss working there.)

My mother is a former dept head there and still conitues to work there part-time as a nurse. She was going to retire 2 years ago, but she can't seem to leave her "family" there.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to FM me.

FWIW, their therapy team is EXCELLENT! They're an awesome bunch of people. Young & Cool!!!

Message edited 6/5/2008 9:05:30 AM.

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

I don't know what kind of specific ratings you're looking for, but here is a link for facilities that offer rehab for TBIs: NY State Dept of Health certified rehab centers

Here is a link to other facilitiy profiles: NY Dept of Health Nursing Home Profiles

Message edited 6/5/2008 9:24:37 AM.

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

St. Johnland the worst. All the staff/nurses/aides keep patients up all night long carrying personal conversations about their lives. The aides are highly stupid, waking up patients every hour from 11pm to 7am. They knock on the door, and ask if you are ok, and say that they did not want to wake you up, and then slam the door and carryon loudly in the hallway, all night long. Head injury patients need massive sleep that you can not get here. My friend 2 weeks later stopped using the diapers, and for 1 month after, everynight the aides would continue to come in and wake you up and ask you if you need your daiper changed. The nurses and staff NEVER communicate between each other, so you have to constantly tell all your needs over and over to every nurse and aide. The therapists take whatever easy way it is for themselves to get out of therapy for your ill loved patient. The therapists are extremely stupid, lack of training, have no clue what they are doing, and when they told me to get training to assist my loved friend, they asked me what I needed to know. HOW FREAKIN STUPID OF THEM!. They should be showing me and telling me what I need to know to assist my friend!. Idiots! I stood at the main desk many times for well over 10 minutes and was never acknowledged, and listened to their phone ring for over 1 hour as they ignored to pick it up. They left my friend in dirty diapers for well over 3 hours and had the nerve to tell me they were clean! THIS PLACE SHOULD BE FULLY INVESTIGATED AND SHUT DOWN! IT took them over 1 week to have me sit with my friend/patient in occupational therapy to learn additional needs and had the nerve to tell me nothing in addition was invovled and I had nothing else to learn as far as assisting my friend. A bunch of freakin Jackasses! What a disgrace! And the rude nurses how they start in with your family about how your in the way when in return they do not handle your loved one with care. The therapists for physical, occupation, and speech were absolutely useless and my friend got worst after 2 months of being there. They lied to me and told me 1 hour of therapy per day for all 3 therapies and my friend was lucky to get 15 minutes per therapy per day. I SAW ALL OF THIS WITH MY OWN EYES!


As far as St. Charles....it was an outright nightmare also. The head injury unit was completely useless, because of un-intelligent therapists. Kids, that just don't give a crap. 2 therapists spoke right past my friend as one was behind her and the other in front of her, talking about their personal lives, confusing my friend even more, as my friend thought they were talking to her. How RUDE! son of a B!tches! They found excuses for the easiest way out of shortening the therapy time with my friend. They lied to me and told me 1 hour of therapy per day for all 3 therapies and my friend was lucky to get 15 minutes per therapy per day. I SAW ALL OF THIS WITH MY OWN EYES!

I gave more therapy, the carpenter, then did every schmuck my friend encountered in these horrible, lying, terrible so-called rehabs? what a disgrace. NY state feds should shut both of these places down for good.

STAY AWAY FROM ST. JOHNLAND and ST. Charles

Heartless uncaring registered nurses and unexperienced therapists and aides with no brains all imported from haiti. The therapists don't understand stroke victims at all. They think a stroke victim knows what they are doing and saying, and then the therapists are so rude and aggressive they create a hate situation and really DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONE AT ALL. i SAW THIS ALL WITH MY OWN EYES. a complete back fired nightmare I tell you all! and the lies were unbelievable!

St. Charles was the same also. HORRIBLE! rude aides and unconcerning nurses just looking for the easy way out to collect their paycheck at the end of the week. Therapists were lazy as all hell and highly unintelligent. Coniving, lying aswholes

Re: Where to find ratings on rehab centers??

Huh? This thread is 5 years old. The OP's brother is doing quite well so uh, thanks for your input. I guess.
Oh. By the way. My mother was a patient at St. Charles. and her nurses were amazing to us and to her. Not sure what ax you have to grind but it has no place here.