Wound and Hyperbaric

Recovering From Stroke
Balance and Vestibular Rehabilitation Services
 Multiple Schlerosis Services
Outcomes

Recovering From Stroke [ top ]

Stroke is the largest cause of disability and the third largest cause of death in the U.S. There are more than four million stroke survivors in this country. Many people live for years following their stroke and want to remain as independent as possible.

Our Stroke Program Services Include:

  • Wheelchair Mobility and Ambulation
  • Balance
  • Speech/Language Skills
  • Self Feeding
  • Swallowing
  • Dressing and Bathing
  • Medication Administration
  • Problem Solving
  • Money and Home Management
  • Bowel and Bladder Retraining
  • Driving Evaluation and Training
  • Equipment Needs
  • Discharge Planning
  • Transfer Training and Strengthening
  • Family Training
  • Community Reintegration

Programmatic Treatment
Our multidisciplinary team combines the knowledge of many medical professionals to develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient. Directed by a physician who specializes in rehabilitation medicine, this team includes a:

  • Physical therapist
  • Occupational therapist
  • Speech pathologist
  • Social worker
  • Dietitian
  • Nursing case manager
  • other health care professionals, depending on each patient’s needs

Inpatient Program
Inpatient stroke survivors receive daily therapy to restore physical and cognitive functions. They also learn new ways to do things, perhaps with assistive equipment to aid walking, talking, grooming and other daily activities as they recover. On the average, inpatients stay at the Elks for two to three weeks in acute or subacute inpatient programs.

The treatment team works with patients to maximize their recovery, beginning with an evaluation to identify each patient’s needs. Weekly team meetings track patients’ progress and update treatments and therapy goals. When discharge is appropriate, the team meets with the patient and family members to summarize progress and to discuss options for continued recovery once the patient leaves the Elks.

Outpatient Program
With continued therapy, stroke survivors can continue to make cognitive and functional improvements after they are discharged from the hospital. In our outpatient stroke program, patients receive between one half hour to three hours of therapy per day as recommended by their physician. Like our inpatient program, specialized plans are developed for each patient’s goals.

To achieve functional goals, a patient may need physical therapy to improve walking, occupational therapy to work safely in the kitchen or speech therapy to improve swallowing or the clarity of communication, for example.

Family Involvement
Because family plays a very important role in a patient’s recovery, our Stroke Programs encourage family involvement. Family members and care givers can observe and participate in therapy sessions and learn how to take care of the patient once they leave the Elks. After participating in the program, family members are better prepared when the patient returns home. Family can also assist in developing a specialized home program for their loved one.

Stroke Clinic
A stroke clinic is held every other week at the Elks as well as in other locations in Idaho throughout the year. At the clinic, stroke survivors are evaluated by a physician, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist and a speech pathologist to determine if further improvements are possible with specific therapy.

Stroke Support Group
Both patients and family members experience major lifestyle changes following a stroke. To help adjust to life after stroke, the Elks provides two Stroke Support Groups for patients and families. In addition to group discussion that offers encouragement and support, each meeting includes a brief presentation by a medical expert. The groups are open to anyone whose life has been touched by stroke, regardless of where they were hospitalized or treated. For meeting times and locations, please call 489-4587.

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

Need to Know More?
If you need additional information about the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital, or would like to make a referral, please call our Stroke Program Director at (208) 489-4587.

Just as the degree to which a stroke affects a person varies, so does each individual’s recovery.
Yet the goals of rehabilitation are the same – to maximize patients’ independence in their daily lives.

To reach these goals, the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital offers a full spectrum of programs and services.

Balance and Vestibular Rehabilitation Services [ top ]

Do You Suffer From:

  • Dizziness or vertigo?
  • Balance problems?
  • Unsteadiness with a tendency to fall?
  • Nausea?
  • Abnormal eye movements (nystagmus)?
  • Light headedness?
  • Blurred vision?
  • Pressure or fullness in the ear or head?
  • Tinnitus (ringing or roaring in the ear)?
  • Hearing loss?

These are symptoms of vestibular disorders. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, you should consult your physician. Vestibular Rehabilitation may be helpful to you.

Dizziness is Not Unusual.
It is the second most common complaint heard by physicians. Much of the time the cause is an inner ear, or vestibular system, disorder. When the vestibular system is not functioning properly, dizziness or vertigo and loss of balance can occur. Loss of balance can create significant disability that can interfere with your ability to enjoy life. It can even lead to serious injury because people who experience dizziness or vertigo are more likely to fall. A fall can cause a fear of falling again, leading to decreased activity and loss of strength, flexibility and mobility, which makes another fall, and potential injury, more likely.

Balance problems can also be caused by head injury, orthopedic conditions, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, as well as other medical and neurological conditions.

The Vestibular System lies within your inner ear. It helps to control eye movement and body position, and helps you maintain your equilibrium. There are over 200 conditions which may produce symptoms of dizziness. To help your physician determine the cause of your problem, you should have a comprehensive evaluation. A Then an effective treatment program can be developed for you.

The Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital can provide a comprehensive evaluation of dizziness, vertigo and imbalance. Our multi-disciplinary team uses the same state-of-the-art equipment developed by NASA to evaluate and treat the astronauts’ balance problems after they return to earth. Equipment called the Smart Balance Master uses computer technology to measure how well the eyes, the inner ear and the muscles and joints are working together in your body to maintain balance.

Further assessment of strength, walking, balance skills and movement tolerance by a physical therapist can also identify problems that could affect your balance.

An audiologist can perform electrophysiological tests that measure your eye movements related to dizziness. This provides information about the inner ear, eye movements, and the nervous system. Since people with inner ear problems can experience hearing loss, an audiologist may also evaluate your hearing.

Treatment for dizziness and balance problems is prescribed by your physician following diagnosis of specific condition or disease. Medical or surgical treatment is required for some diagnoses, however, many conditions improve with specialized physical therapy. This treatment, called Rehabilitative Balance Therapy, uses exercises designed to significantly reduce the severity of dizziness or balance problems and help you learn to compensate for your balance disorder.

Balance and Vestibular Services at the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital Include:

Audiological Services

  • Electronystagmography (ENG)
  • Evoked potentials (ABR)
  • Aural rehabilitation
  • Hearing aids, speech reading, compensatory strategies.

Physical Therapy

  • Vestibular/balance assessment
  • Computerized Dynamic Posturography
  • (CDP) using the Smart Balance Master
  • Rehabilitative Balance Therapy
  • Comprehensive Physical Therapy
  • Evaluation and Treatment

Is a Physician's Referral Needed to Receive Therapy?
Yes. There are many causes of dizziness and not all of them result from vestibular deficits. That is why it is critical that you have a medical evaluation before you begin a therapy program. You may be referred by your family physician or a specialist.

Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation Services [ top ]
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 Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital is to preserve and restore independence for people with disabilities, we provide comprehensive services to meet the needs of the Multiple Sclerosis patient.

Our Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation Services Include:

  • Wheelchair Mobility and Ambulation
  • Balance Activities
  • Speech/Language skills
  • Swallowing
  • Self Feeding
  • Dressing and Bathing
  • Medication Administration
  • Bowel and Bladder Retraining
  • Problem Solving Activities
  • Money and Home Management
  • Driving Evaluation and Training
  • Equipment Needs
  • Family training
  • Discharge planning
  • Community Reintegration


Inpatient Services
Inpatient Multiple Sclerosis care involves a multi-disciplinary team approach, under the direction of a Physiatrist, to address problems with functional mobility, activities of daily living, aphasia, swallowing and cognition. Patients also learn new ways to do things, perhaps utilizing adaptive equipment or techniques. The Optimal Five Program provides an intensive inpatient rehabilitation program, which is accomplished in five days.

Inpatient Multiple Sclerosis patients receive daily therapy to restore physical and cognitive functions. Evaluations are completed by Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Social Services. Other professional evaluations, such as Dietary, Respiratory Therapy, Neuro-psychology and Cardiac Therapy are ordered if appropriate. Interdisciplinary staffings are held weekly to monitor the patient’s progress toward goals, manage costs effectively and to estimate the projected length of stay.

Outpatient Services
With therapy, multiple sclerosis patients can continue to make cognitive and functional improvements over a period of time. Like our inpatient program, patients receive between one half hour to three hours of therapy per day as recommended by their physician. Individualized plans of care are created for each patient to meet their goals.

Family Involvement
Because family plays a very important role in a patient’s recovery, we encourage family involvement. Family members and caregivers can observe and participate in therapy sessions to learn how to care for the patient in their home environment. Family members can also assist in developing a specialized home program for their loved one.

Multiple Sclerosis Clinic
The MS Clinic features a team of MS specialists, directed by a physician, who meet one day each month at the Elks to find solutions to the health care needs of people with Multiple Sclerosis. People who attend the clinic usually spend two to three hours with a team of medical professionals for evaluations.

After a clinic patient has seen each of the 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 or 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, caregivers and physician, the team recommends individualized rehabilitation strategies.

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

Need to Know More?
If you need additional information about the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital or would like to make a referral, please call our Stroke/Neuro Program Director at (208) 489-4587.

Just as the degree to which Multiple Sclerosis affects a person varies, so does each individuals recovery. Yet the goals of rehabilitation are the same - to maximize patients’ independence in their daily lives. To reach these goals, the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital offers a full spectrum of programs and services.

Outcomes[ top ]
To view the Stroke Program Outcomes for 2004.
To view the Stroke Program Outcomes for 2005.
To view the Stroke Program Outcomes for 2006.
Please click on the link.



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