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Multiple Sclerosis Clinic
Comprehensive Wound Care
Adult Urinary Incontinence Clinic

Multiple Sclerosis Clinic [ top ]

A Team Approach to Care
The Elks MS Clinic features a team of MS specialists, directed by a physician, who meet each month to find solutions to the health care needs of people with MS.

The MS Clinic meets one day each month at the Elks. People who attend the clinic usually spend two to three hours with a team of medical professionals.

A physiatrist, a physician who specializes in rehabilitation, will evaluate functional issues, medications and direct the treatment team.

An occupational therapist will assess a person’s daily work and leisure activities to determine the impact fatigue has on these activities. Rehabilitation recommendations may include therapy, education and the use of assistive devices and adaptive equipment. Strategies for energy conservation and work simplification may also be shared with clinic patients.

A speech/language pathologist will assess speech clarity, voice quality, swallowing skills, thought organization and memory. Rehabilitation recommendations to manage MS symptoms may include therapy, education, compensatory strategies and alternative means of communication that may include augmentative communication devices.

A physical therapist will assess a person’s ability to move independently, including getting in and out of bed or to and from a sitting position, walking and using a wheelchair. Rehabilitation recommendations for symptom management may include therapy, education, assistive devices or orthotics, wheelchair fitting and mobility strategies for fluctuating energy levels.

A rehabilitation nurse, with a physician, can assess the function of the bowel and bladder. Treatment recommendations may include education, medication and diet changes to improve elimination for bowel and bladder control.

A social worker will assess psychosocial and care giving needs. Recommendations may include utilizing resources in the community such as counseling, support groups, home health, funding sources and care giver respite.

A neuropsychologist can determine the need for counseling, testing or programming to facilitate learning or behavior modification.

A dietitian will evaluate nutritional needs and provide education on recommended dietary changes.

This unique, one-stop evaluation approach provides convenience and improved care for people with MS.

A Plan for Rehabilitation
After a clinic patient has seen each of these team members, the team meets to develop a plan for the patient’s symptom management and preservation of independence. This may include a five to seven day admission to the Elks, outpatient therapy and education for the clinic patient and care givers. The plan may also include referrals to resources available in the community.

This plan is shared with the patient and the physician who made the referral to the clinic. Together with the patient, care givers and physician, the team recommends individualized rehabilitation strategies.

The Elks Clinic Can Help
Ask your physician if the Elks MS Clinic can help you.
To obtain an MS Clinic pre-screening questionnaire, call the Elks Hospital at (208) 489-4571.

Coverage for Our Services
Our services are covered by most insurance companies. Insurance verification specialists at the Elks can provide assistance determining your available coverage.

As multiple sclerosis progresses, people with this disorder often experience a host of physical and cognitive disabilities that can threaten their independence. Because one of the goals of the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital is to preserve and restore independence for people with disabilities, we provide a comprehensive clinic to evaluate the needs of people with multiple sclerosis.

Adult Urinary Incontinence Clinic [ top ]
The Adult Urinary Incontinence Clinic was established by St. Luke’s and the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital to help clients establish or regain normal urinary continence using an effective, multidisciplinary approach to the problem. Clinic staff includes a trained incontinence nurse, a physical therapist skilled in pelvic floor assessment and biofeedback, and both gynecological and urological surgeons.

What to Expect
When you arrive at the Adult Urinary Incontinence Clinic, you will receive a thorough initial evaluation by both a physical therapist and a physician, after which you will be given a treatment plan to best address your particular medical needs. During this initial visit, you will be given a cystometrogram, a urodynamic test that measures how well your bladder stores and lets out urine. It also monitors the sensations you feel as your bladder fills. It is generally not painful and takes just a few minutes to complete.

Cystoscopy, which involves looking through a tube directly into your bladder, may also be performed. Before your appointment, drink normal amounts of liquid, but avoid taking any bladder medication for 24 hours before the test. If you suspect you may have a bladder infection or are being treated for an infection close to the date of your scheduled visit, your appointment may need to be postponed until after your symptoms have been cleared.

At the time of your first visit, it is important to bring a list of all your prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.

Most people find that four to eight weeks of therapy significantly improves the problem. Follow-up appointments are made based on treatment recommendations. If a physician or nurse practitioner referred you to the Clinic, we will forward these recommendations to their office.

Treatment
Following is a brief description of our most common treatment methods at the clinic:

Physical Therapy

Biofeedback Therapy: A safe, relatively comfortable technique using internal or external sensors helps you learn to exercise and coordinate the muscles that control your urinary bladder.

Therapeutic Exercise: Exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor and the abdominal walls are performed to assist with decreasing episodes of urinary incontinence.

Pessary device fitting and training: A pessary, a ring-shaped device, is inserted into the vagina which helps manage urinary incontinence by lifting and supporting the urinary bladder and surrounding structure.

Bladder re-training and self-catheterization: Toilet training involves emptying your bladder on a set schedule, which helps avoid accidents. You may also learn to place a thin tube called a catheter into your urethra (the tube that leads from the bladder to the outside of the body) to help drain your bladder on a regular basis.

Incontinence surgery: Once all appropriate non-surgical treatments have been tried, your physician may recommend surgery. Common incontinence surgeries include bladder neck suspension, periurethral bulking injections (injecting collagen around the urethra to help create a seal around the bladder neck), or implanting an artificial sphincter or sacral nerve stimulator.

Coverage for Our Services
Our services are covered by most insurance companies.

Need to Know More?
Admission to the Adult Urinary Incontinence Clinic requires a physician’s referral, so ask your doctor to give us a call. If you need additional information about urinary incontinence services at The Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital, please call (208) 489-4533.