Drake Center: Specialized Medical & Rehabilitative Care

The Team Approach

Drake Center is committed to providing both inpatients and outpatients with the individualized, state-of-the-art care they need for recovery. To accomplish this goal, Drake Center uses a team approach.

Upon admission, each patient is assigned an interdisciplinary treatment team with highly specialized training and experience. In fact, prior to admission, this team will have met to anticipate the patient's arrival and determine an initial care path.

The team includes many or all of the following professionals: attending physician, physician assistant or resident, nursing staff, case manager, therapy professionals, psychologist, nutrition professional, alternative wellness professionals, chaplain, and others as needed.

As important members of this team, the patient and family members will be actively involved in making decisions about care. The entire team will then develop a working treatment plan based on the patient's specific needs, using a holistic approach.

The overall goal is to help both inpatients and outpatients reach the highest possible levels of functioning and independence in the most appropriate, cost-effective setting. Our entire continuum of care is based on this interdisciplinary team philosophy.

The Treatment Team

The attending physician assigned to a patient is responsible for his or her care at Drake Center. This physician coordinates treatment and arranges consultations with other medical specialists when necessary. On-site physicians include specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation, internal medicine, neurology, pulmonology, infectious diseases, cardiology, psychiatry, nephrology, and other fields.

The physician assistant or resident (on many units) works closely with the patient's doctor to provide daily medical monitoring and management and is able to answer medical questions and address patient and family concerns.

The nursing staff on a patient's team is supervised by the care coordination leader. Focusing on recovery and prevention of further health problems, this staff includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants. They help the patient and family practice any skills learned in therapy and provide education on health needs and medications.

The case manager acts as the liaison between the patient, family, and team. He or she helps coordinate a plan of care, ongoing goal setting, and discharge planning. The case manager also selects an education program to prepare the patient and caregiver for providing care after discharge. In addition, this team member coordinates a patient's stay with their insurance carrier, giving updates and confirming insurance benefits.

The therapy professionals of Drake Center are highly qualified and offer a complete range of therapies. Drake Center’s spacious, well-designed indoor and outdoor therapy areas and advanced equipment support their efforts. If a patient's physician orders therapies, a number of therapy professionals may become members of the treatment team. Their common goal is to help the patient achieve the highest possible level of independence.

Drake Center therapy professionals also offer warm-water aquatic therapy as appropriate in Drake Center’s state-of-the-art, fully accessible Aquatic Therapy Center. These therapy professionals include:

  • The physical therapy professional helps the patient gain strength, manage pain, and improve mobility skills, such as walking, getting in and out of bed, maneuvering a wheelchair, or climbing stairs. This professional also evaluates a patient's functional abilities and safety in performing movements. In addition, he or she provides instructions to the patient and family for continuing the recovery process once the patient is no longer under the therapist’s direct care.
  • The occupational therapy professional focuses on helping a patient relearn the important Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). These activities may include self-care skills, work skills, and leisure skills, using adaptive devices when needed. This professional may provide training both at Drake Center and in community settings.
  • The speech-language pathologist and audiologist evaluate and treat communication, cognitive, swallowing, and hearing difficulties. If needed, the speech-language pathologist helps the patient practice communication skills, learn to use communication devices, relearn safe swallowing, and improve memory and problem-solving skills. The audiologist can perform hearing evaluations and fit/dispense hearing aids.
  • The recreational therapist focuses on helping the patient relearn or adapt leisure and recreational activities to make the most of life. Sessions address physical, cognitive, social, emotional, or behavioral problems. During community reentry outings, the patient can gain practice in dealing with physical and psychological barriers.
  • The respiratory therapist is an expert in ventilator/airway management and weaning. For a respiratory condition, this therapist’s evaluation of a patient's status and communication with the physician help greatly to direct the plan of care.

The psychologist assists with adjustment to illness, injury, and disability. As needed, the psychologist evaluates a patient's coping, memory, and problem-solving abilities. Psychological counseling may be recommended to help a patient accomplish rehabilitation goals. The psychologist also helps in coping with any emotional stress the patient and family are experiencing.

The nutrition professional (a registered dietitian or other professional) explains the diet prescribed by the patient's doctor. In most cases, the patient can make choices from a nutritionally balanced menu.

Upon admission, the dietitian evaluates a patient's nutritional requirements and begins periodic progress checks. Before discharge, the dietitian can provide instructions to help the patient and family continue the diet at home.

Alternative wellness professionals provide services such as massage therapy to complement traditional medicine, enhance healing, and relieve stress. Please call 513-418-2727 (within Drake Center: 2727) for information on current services, schedules, and fees.

Chaplains/pastoral care (Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant chaplains) are available upon request. A patient can ask the Chaplain’s office to notify his or her pastor, rabbi, or priest that the patient is at Drake Center. A schedule of available religious activities is delivered to the room of each new patient, and a meditation room is available for a patient, family, and visitors (Level 1, North Pavilion). For more information, call 513-418-2541 (within Drake Center: 2541).