Subacute Care
Our Subacute Unit is uniquely designed for patients who require complex medical technology and support to sustain life. Our goal is to help each patient achieve the best quality of life and the highest level of functioning possible. Areas of service may include:
- Adult-care facility specializing in the care of tracheostomy and ventilator-dependent patients.
- 28-bed licensed facility accredited by the Department of Health Care Services (DCHS)
- Striving to maintain a home-like environment that preserves each person’s dignity during their stay with us
Subacute Care
Is defined as comprehensive inpatient tracheostomy and/or ventilator care designed for someone who has an acute illness, injury or exacerbation of a disease process. It is goal-oriented treatment given immediately after, or instead of, acute hospitalization to treat complex medical conditions or to administer technically complex treatments, in the context of a person’s underlying long-term conditions and overall situation.
Acute Rehabilitation
Is a specialty that provides an intensive inpatient program to help people who have experienced some major injury, disorder or illness regain the skills needed to return to the community. The central nervous system and musculoskeletal systems are most often involved.
Our Interdisciplinary Team Approach
When patients are admitted to the Subacute they are evaluated by our team and given an individualized care plan specifically designed for their condition. We strive to maintain a home-like environment that preserves each person’s dignity. Members of our team include
- Medical director
- Program and staff physicians
- Nurse practitioners
- Registered nurses
- Speech therapists
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Registered Dietitians
- Respiratory therapists
- Case managers
- Social services
- Activity planner
Respiratory Therapy at Vermont
Admission to Vermont can be made with a physician referral from a variety of settings (including a physician’s office, skilled nursing facility and home), most of our patients are admitted from a hospital ICU or general medical and surgical units in short-term acute care hospitals because they are in need of a longer Subacute Care recovery period.
Patients may require the following:
- life support and require ventilator management and weaning
- ARDS, COPD or neuromuscular disease, or chronic lung problems such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, lung fibrosis, pneumonia and lung cancer
- Have compromised airways that require tracheostomy care and the training that goes with it
Upon physician orders, respiratory therapy services are provided by Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCP) on a 24- hour basis, with diagnostic procedures scheduled as needed.
RCPs are both registered and certified therapists that work under the direction of a board-certified physician and medical director to deliver quality respiratory care. Services include:
- Aerosol therapy
- Arterial blood gasses analysis
- Continuous Positive
- Continues Positive Air Pressure (CPAP)
- Hand-held nebulizer therapy
- Metered dose inhaler
- Patient/family education
- Pulse oximetry
- Respiratory monitoring
- Suctioning
- Weaning from ventilator support