NORFOLK, Neb. — Faith Regional Health Services has long been a provider of acute rehabilitation in Norfolk, aiding recovery and boosting functional independence.

Patients admitted to the unit have suffered from conditions such as stroke, brain or spinal cord injuries, or severe falls requiring surgery. Admission is also subject to insurance pre-authorization. While Medicare patients do not require pre-authorization, all patients need a referral from physical and occupational therapists confirming their ability to tolerate intense therapy.

"To give you an idea of how immersive this unit is, patients dive into three hours of classes, five days a week," said Dr. Mahmut Kaner, FRHS Doctor of Physical Medicine & Rehab. "It’s packed with multiple therapy sessions including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. We have nurses available 24/7, a dietician, a social worker, and from time to time, we can involve psychiatry and other specialties if we need to.”

Faith Regional enhances the rehab process by simulating home environments, guiding patients through their usual household routines. FRHS Occupational Therapist Kylie Molacek explained, “We will have patients come into our laundry and kitchen area to talk about how they would perform those activities after their injury, a stroke, or just an exacerbation of some illness. We talk about how we're going to do that safely, and we will then actually do simulated kitchen tasks and some laundry tasks.”

This unit marks a significant advancement for Northeast Nebraska's patients, eliminating the need for long-distance travel to access this type of specialized care, according to FRHS Acute Rehab Unit Manager and RN Michelle Woodbury. “There are other rehab units around, but they are two to three hours away. The closest next acute rehab unit would be in Lincoln or Omaha, and then out in Western Nebraska, there is Kearney, Hastings, and Scottsbluff. So, it's nice to be able to be close to home for our patients."