Service Spotlight: Wheelchair Clinic 09.08.2022 When the architectural plans for Sheltering Arms Institute were being drawn up, we ensured with input from patients, families, and team members that physical space was dedicated to a robust in-house wheelchair clinic to provide specialty services related to patients’ seating and mobility needs. “I worked on VCU Health’s spinal cord injury unit for more than a decade, fell in love with wheelchairs, and realized how important they can be to the success of somebody long term,” said Megan Murphey, PT, DPT, ATP, NCS, Assistive Technology Specialist, who leads the clinic. Megan’s knowledge and passion for assistive equipment and technology is evident in her interactions with patients and their loved ones, just ask Laura Grosvenor whose son Hayden spent five weeks at the Institute due to a Guillain-Barré syndrome relapse. “Megan took the time to explain all the pieces and how they worked, how to take apart the wheelchair, and how to maintain the cushion,” said Laura. “They took care of all the details involved in ordering a custom wheelchair and we were thankful to have a loaner to go home with.” Patients are referred to our wheelchair clinic by their primary therapy team to determine what kind of device they need, whether it is a power chair, a manual chair, or something in between. The clinic team, including complex rehabilitation technology vendors, then constructs a demo chair to discover what works best for each person. The clinic is stocked with a wide array of brands and types of equipment, including frames, wheels, cushions, backrests, brakes, and more, in addition to new technologies like sensors. “We believe in try before you buy, so we meet with patients on a weekly basis to check in, tweak things, and make sure that everything is right, or to switch things out so that patients can try different components,” Megan explained. “We’re enhancing recovery efforts by making sure that people are as mobile as possible, no matter what that looks like, and providing them with what’s optimal and not just an off-the-shelf product.” Based on how a patient is progressing in therapy, equipment adjustments are made to reflect functional changes. In Hayden’s case, he moved from a full power chair to a power-assist manual chair during his stay. Appointments at the clinic also include patients’ family members and caregivers to provide education and training on how to get the chair in and out of a car, for example. Once the loaner chair is optimally configured, the vendor pre-screens each patient’s insurance before ordering a custom chair. “If the insurance company denies something that we think they should approve, we will go through an appeal process and really fight to make sure that people get the equipment they need,” Megan added. The volume of referrals to the wheelchair clinic proves the need for this service. In 2021, 365 patients were referred to the wheelchair clinic by their care teams.
Sheltering Arms Institute Hospital Receives New Quality-Based Accreditation From DNV 06.28.2022 RICHMOND, Va. (June 28, 2022) — Sheltering Arms Institute Hospital is excited to announce the successful completion of its new accreditation process awarded by DNV. By earning accreditation, the hospital has demonstrated it meets or exceeds patient safety standards (Conditions of Participation) set forth by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. DNV’s accreditation program is the only one to integrate the ISO 9001 Quality Management System with the Medicare Conditions of Participation. “The DNV program is consistent with our commitment to quality and patient safety,” says Linda Tiemens, VP, Quality and Care Coordination. “The ability to integrate ISO 9001 with our clinical processes will elevate our standards of excellence even further.” Sheltering Arms Institute Hospital has three years from the date of its accreditation to achieve compliance with ISO 9001, the world’s most trusted quality management system used by performance-driven organizations around the world to advance their quality and sustainability objectives. “We have taken an entirely different approach to accreditation, and hospitals are really responding,” says DNV Healthcare USA Inc. President Patrick Horine. “Since accreditation is a must-have credential for just about every hospital in this country, why not make it more valuable, and get more out of it? That’s where ISO 9001 comes into play and turns the typical get-your-ticket-punched accreditation exercise into a quality transformation.” DNV’s accreditation program, called NIAHO® (National Integrated Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations), involves annual hospital surveys – instead of every three years – and encourages hospitals to openly share information across departments and to discover improvements in clinical workflows and safety protocols. About Sheltering Arms Institute Sheltering Arms and VCU Health System have formed a joint venture, Sheltering Arms Institute, a state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation hospital and network of outpatient centers, that brings together the brand and clinical reputation of Sheltering Arms and the nationally ranked programs and research of VCU Health. The Institute blends advanced technology, research, and evidence-based clinical treatment to create an innovative, transdisciplinary model of rehabilitative care that facilitates superior outcomes for patients. For more information, please visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com. About DNV DNV is a global independent certification, assurance, and risk management provider, operating in more than 100 countries. Through its broad experience and deep expertise, DNV advances safety and sustainable performance, sets industry benchmarks, drives innovative solutions. Whether certifying a company’s management system or products, accrediting hospitals, providing training, or assessing supply chains or digital assets, DNV enables customers and stakeholders to make critical decisions with confidence, continually improve, and realize long-term strategic goals sustainably. DNV draws on its wide technical and industry expertise to help companies worldwide build consumer and stakeholder trust. Driven by its purpose—to safeguard life, property, and the environment—DNV helps tackle the challenges and global transformations facing its customers and the world today and is a trusted voice for many of the world’s most successful and forward-thinking companies. For more information about DNV, visit www.dnvcert.com/healthcare.
Sheltering Arms Institute Launches Stroke Peer Mentor Program 05.19.2022 Stroke survivors visit patients to help with their recovery RICHMOND, Va. (May 19, 2022) – May is National Stroke Awareness Month and Sheltering Arms Institute is enhancing its rehabilitation program for stroke survivors by launching its own stroke peer mentoring program. According to the CDC, more than three-quarters of a million people in the United States have a stroke every year and for 185,000 of those individuals, it’s their second stroke. Forty-four-year-old Jenifer Wilson recently experienced her second stroke leaving her paralyzed on the left side of her body. “All I have in front of me is the great unknown,” Wilson said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen or if I’m going to be independent when I get home and get back to life.” Wilson’s recreation therapist suggested that she meet with fellow survivor Eleanor Angle, who experienced a stroke in 2020 and was also a patient at Sheltering Arms Institute. Two years later, Angle continues to work toward regaining her independence. “I have not allowed my stroke to sideline me from life and it’s really a privilege to be able to give back to patients here. I try to offer up some encouragement, support, and a listening ear given that I’ve been on exactly their same path,” Angle said about the opportunity to become a stroke peer mentor. Oftentimes, peer mentor programs are created by external partners; however, Sheltering Arms Institute created this program from scratch including mentor training materials and the process of pairing patients with mentors. Other successful peer mentor programs at the Institute for people who have experienced spinal cord injuries and amputations served as a model for the stroke program’s creation. “Evidence shows that when community support services are provided, patient outcomes improve. Just having somebody they can relate to say, ‘I know where you are and recovery is possible’ provides motivation and encouragement and leads to further discussions or questions,” said Alison Clarke, CTRS, Community Engagement Manager, who spearheaded the program. Peer mentors are volunteers and complete a six-hour course on successful mentoring taught by expert clinicians in psychology and speech-language pathology. Each mentor meets one-on-one with patients one afternoon every week, which is an invaluable resource to patients like Wilson. “I’m having a hard time with staying upbeat, so anything I can do that’s going to possibly alleviate that is really helpful,” Wilson said. “My biggest takeaway from meeting with Eleanor was to learn a new way to do old things. I still feel like I can keep my life, I just have to learn how to do it differently.” ### About Sheltering Arms Institute Sheltering Arms and VCU Health System have formed a joint venture, Sheltering Arms Institute, a state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation hospital, that brings together the brand and clinical reputation of Sheltering Arms and the nationally ranked programs and research of VCU Health. The Institute blends advanced technology, research, and evidence-based clinical treatment to create an innovative, transdisciplinary model of rehabilitative care that facilitates superior outcomes for patients. For more information, please visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com.
Sheltering Arms Institute Supports Stroke Awareness Month 05.16.2022 Central Virginia Physical Rehabilitation Hospital Bolsters Stroke Program With New Initiatives RICHMOND, Va. (May 16, 2022) – Sheltering Arms Institute is proud to support the 33rd annual National Stroke Awareness month, which takes place each May to increase awareness about the warning signs, symptoms, prevention, and impact of stroke on survivors as well as their families and caregivers. Sheltering Arms Institute offers a robust stroke program to help people regain their independence following this life-changing illness and is excited to announce several new initiatives as part of this programming including: Partnership with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) in support of the first statewide Paul Coverdell Acute Stroke Program Grant The Paul Coverdell Acute Stroke Program Grant is a three-year federal grant provided to select state health departments to collect, measure, and track data to improve the quality of care for stroke patients. Sheltering Arms Institute is among other top healthcare institutions and the only rehabilitation hospital to support the VDH in continuing to advance stroke care by utilizing Unite Us software to connect patients with needed health and social care resources post-discharge. Partnership with Richmond and Henrico Health District community health workers Sheltering Arms Institute is collaborating with community health workers from these two districts to identify patients at high risk for health concerns such as missing doctor’s appointments and food insecurity to provide staff to help navigate these matters and ensure access to needed resources. Blood pressure monitoring initiative with the Medical Society of Virginia, BEATDiabetes, and BEATStroke This program uses text message reminders to engage with and remind patients to monitor their blood pressure in between medical appointments. The Medical Society of Virginia donated 30 automatic blood pressure cuffs to Sheltering Arms Institute to enroll patients in the program to improve blood pressure. Connecting patients with stroke support groups and peer mentors Current patients at Sheltering Arms Institute participate in a virtual meet and greet with the Virginia Stroke Survivor and Caregiver Education Support Group, which provides long-term support to individuals impacted by stroke. Fellow survivors, some of whom are former Sheltering Arms Institute patients, serve as peer mentor volunteers and meet one-on-one with current patients to establish ongoing relationships with one another. “We are creating a continuum of care across the state where patients who have experienced a stroke would have access to the entire continuum and somebody to help them navigate that,” said Melissa Banta, PT, DPT, Stroke Therapy Program Manager. “We know that stroke recovery happens over time and a lot of support systems need to be in place for people to achieve their best outcomes, so we want to make sure our patients are prepared.” For more information about Sheltering Arms Institute’s stroke program, please visit https://shelteringarmsinstitute.com/conditions-and-services/stroke-rehabilitation/. ### About Sheltering Arms Institute: Sheltering Arms and VCU Health System have formed a joint venture, Sheltering Arms Institute, a state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation hospital, that brings together the brand and clinical reputation of Sheltering Arms and the nationally ranked programs and research of VCU Health. The Institute blends advanced technology, research, and evidence-based clinical treatment to create an innovative, transdisciplinary model of rehabilitative care that facilitates superior outcomes for patients. For more information, please visit shelteringarmsinstitute.com.
Sheltering Arms Institute Recognizes Patient Experience Week 04.25.2022 Annual Event to Celebrate Healthcare Staff Impacting Patient Experience Every Day Richmond, VA (April 25, 2022) – Recognizing and encouraging global efforts to improve the healthcare experience for patients, their families, and caregivers, Sheltering Arms Institute celebrates the fifth annual Patient Experience (PX) Week April 25 – 29, 2022. PX Week is brought to the healthcare community by The Beryl Institute, the global community of practice dedicated to improving the patient experience through collaboration and shared knowledge. Inspired by members of the Institute community, PX Week provides a focused time for organizations to celebrate accomplishments, re-energize efforts and honor the people who impact the patient experience every day. From nurses and physicians, to support staff and executive professionals, to patients, families, and communities served, the Institute hopes to bring together healthcare organizations across the globe to observe PX Week. Sheltering Arms Institute plans to celebrate its healthcare team members by participating in myriad activities including: Meaningful Monday – Ice cream treats for all! Teamwork Tuesday – Solve puzzles for a chance to win gift/gas card prizes Well-being Wednesday – Health and wellness activities Thankful Thursday – Deliver special gratitude gifts to our patients sponsored by Sheltering Arms Foundation Feel Good Friday – Breakfast for all team members in the café hosted by the Servant Leadership Council “It is because of our talented and compassionate teammates that the Sheltering Arms Institute Patient Experience is wonderful! This week is really a great opportunity to thank everyone for the incredible patient experience they provide,” said Linda Tiemens, VP, Quality and Care Coordination. The Institute has compiled a list of suggested ways to celebrate PX Week and will also offer a series of free virtual educational opportunities on various aspects of patient experience improvement. To learn more, visit http://www.theberylinstitute.org/?page=PXWEEK ### About The Beryl Institute: The Beryl Institute is the global community of practice dedicated to improving the patient experience through collaboration and shared knowledge. We define patient experience as the sum of all interactions, shaped by an organization’s culture, that influence patient perceptions across the continuum of care. About Sheltering Arms Institute: Sheltering Arms and VCU Health System have formed a joint venture, Sheltering Arms Institute, a state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation hospital, that brings together the brand and clinical reputation of Sheltering Arms and the nationally ranked programs and research of VCU Health. The Institute blends advanced technology, research, and evidence-based clinical treatment to create an innovative, transdisciplinary model of rehabilitative care that facilitates superior outcomes for patients. For more information, please visit shelteringarmsinstitute.com.
‘God has given me a gift:’ Michael Lowery Survives Spinal Cord Injury Following Weightlifting Accident 09.23.2020 It was just before the holidays on December 17, 2019. Most of us were shopping, decorating, and preparing to spend time with family. 38-year-old Michael Lowery was beginning the most significant challenge of his life. He was working out at the gym, lifting heavy free weights. In the middle of his heaviest set, someone called his name. Instinctually, he turned his head, “which is a no-no and I instantly felt a pinched nerve in my neck and I started to fall. When I went to push back up with all I had, that’s when it snapped my neck,” Michael recalls. A native of Martinsville, Virginia, Michael was rushed to a local emergency room where he immediately underwent surgery. Following the first surgery, the doctors realized his case was much more severe and transported him to VCU Health, where a second surgery was performed. “When I woke up, I couldn’t feel anything. I couldn’t breathe, so they put me on a ventilator. I was on a ventilator for a month and a half. My family had already made [after-life] plans because they didn’t think I was going to pull through.” Michael was left with an American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Classification C incomplete spinal cord injury. He has a metal plate inside of his neck from his C3 to C6 vertebrae, but he also has a witty sense of humor, a positive attitude, and determination to continue getting better. “At first, I was just happy to wiggle my toes, that was the best thing ever, but then I started to think, ‘This isn’t so bad. I can work my way up and I believe I can handle this,’” he said. On March 3, Michael transferred to the rehab floor at VCU Health. “It’s emotional talking about,” Michael shares. “When I first got on the rehab floor, I couldn’t hardly do anything. I literally had to learn everything like I was a newborn—how to walk, how to talk.” What ensued was a lot of hard work in therapy, mentally and physically. Starting small, his therapists used different strength bands in occupational therapy to work on hand strength and small movements on the mat in physical therapy to build his strength back up. “Michael and I were able to use every rehab technique under the sun,” said Ben Kiesler, OTR/L, who has been working with Michael since the beginning of his rehab stay. “We developed an exercise routine he liked performing and we shocked his muscles to help him regain his strength early on. The majority of our sessions focused on getting comfortable with his balance and practicing techniques for living independently.” “I used to be scared to death to [do things like] lean over to do a pressure release because I was so scared I was going to flip out of my wheelchair,” Michael adds. “And then one day I said, you know what? I’m going to practice this until I get it right.” In June, Michael was one of the first patients to transfer from VCU Health to Sheltering Arms Institute. He began losing his fears and finding hope as he started to see some of his muscles return. “As he got into the routine of rehab and started seeing gains, he really challenged himself to push further and he started talking about all of the things he was excited to do, like joining the wheelchair rugby team or renting an apartment. He became very forward thinking and I was so glad to see that,” added Ben. “Here at Sheltering Arms Institute, they have a lot of neat machines that helped me get even more movement back since I’ve been here,” he says about the state-of-the-science technologies. “The [Hocoma] Lokomat is awesome! I was looking at it thinking, ‘How in the world am I going to do this?’ They hook me up to a harness, lift me up in the air, and lower my feet down onto a treadmill… I can really kick my leg out like I’m walking and I thought that was so awesome.” Throughout his recovery, Michael has been steadfast in documenting his progress, being sure to record videos almost daily to help him reflect on how far he’s come and to send his family updates. “I went from not being able to do anything and now I’m walking with a walker. [I hope that] families whose sons or husbands or mothers have a spinal cord injury, they can look at these videos and maybe my story will help motivate them and give them hope.” Michael and his care team have also placed a lot of emphasis on exercises that help him learn new ways to be independent such as practicing cooking, learning to lie on his back, using the restroom by himself, and bathing himself. “I can transfer onto my wheelchair, roll myself into the shower, do a lateral transfer onto the bench, shower, dry off, get back in the chair, get back in the bed, get dressed, and hop back in my chair again,” he says of his routine. He hopes to live on his own, become a peer mentor for other spinal cord injury survivors, and one day, walk again. “Being able to show my moves, my skills on the mat to another wheelchair person—that is great. I want to devote my time into coming back here and helping other spinal cord injury patients. God has given me a gift of making people laugh and putting smiles on people’s faces, so that’s my job, that’s what I do.”
Sheltering Arms Institute Nears Grand Opening 06.10.2020 Sheltering Arms Hospital and VCU Health are pleased to announce the grand opening of their collaboration on a destination rehab facility, Sheltering Arms Institute. The 114-bed, state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation facility is situated on 46 acres in the West Creek Medical Park, just west of Short Pump near the Broad Street Road and Route 288 interchange. The new hospital combines the strengths of both organizations to provide exceptional care for individuals who have survived strokes, spinal cord injuries and brain injuries, as well as those in need of general rehabilitation for various illnesses and injuries. “This grand opening brings our goals of combining advanced technology, research, and evidenced-based clinical care together under one roof to fruition in order to offer our patients the best possible outcomes for success,” said Mary Zweifel, president and CEO of Sheltering Arms. “The opening of this new facility has been years in the making and we’re thrilled to now open the doors and provide a new avenue of access to leading-edge thinking, research, teaching, and clinical practice,” added Paul Wesolowski, Chief Operating Officer of VCU Health System. From June 13-28, Sheltering Arms and VCU Health are relocating existing beds from both organizations’ three current hospitals – Sheltering Arms Hanover (40 beds), Sheltering Arms South (28 beds), and VCU Health (46 beds). Moving patients in phases allows for the most effective accreditation and regulatory reviews, which are standard requirements at a new hospital. The 212,063 square foot facility was constructed specifically for physical rehabilitation with features including all private patient rooms, multiple specialty units, a 9,251 square foot main therapy gym and three satellite gyms, research space, state-of-the-art patient care technology and rehabilitation equipment, and more. “Our vision is to reinvent rehabilitation for life beyond limits. This is an opportunity for all of us to serve the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond,” said Alan Lombardo, CEO of Sheltering Arms Institute. “We’re now offering clinical care, supported by research, to ensure patients benefit for the rest of their lives and are able to get back to living in their community.” About Sheltering Arms InstituteSheltering Arms and VCU Health System have formed a joint venture, Sheltering Arms Institute, a state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation hospital, that brings together the brand and clinical reputation of Sheltering Arms and the nationally ranked programs of VCU Health. The Institute blends advanced technology, research, and evidence-based clinical treatment to create an innovative, transdisciplinary model of rehabilitative care that will facilitate superior outcomes for patients. All outpatient services for both parent organizations will operate separately for now and into the foreseeable future. For more information, please explore ShelteringArmsInstitute.com.
Sheltering Arms Institute to Hold Virtual Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony 05.12.2020 Sheltering Arms Hospital and VCU Health will hold a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony for their brand-new, 114-bed, destination rehab facility Sheltering Arms Institute. Thursday, June 4, 2020 12-12:30 p.m. – Virtual Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony www.ShelteringArmsInstitute.com or facebook.com/ShelteringArmsInstitute Sheltering Arms Institute is situated on 46 acres in the West Creek Medical Park off Broad Street Road, just east of the state Route 288 interchange in Goochland County. The state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation facility is the only hospital in central Virginia constructed specifically for physical rehabilitation with 212,063 total square feet, all private patient rooms, five specialty units, a 9,251 square foot main therapy gym and three satellite gyms, research space, state-of-the-art patient care technology and rehabilitation equipment, and more. The new hospital combines the strengths of both organizations to provide exceptional care for individuals who have survived strokes, spinal cord injuries or brain injuries, as well as those in need of general rehabilitation for various illnesses and injuries. From June 13-28, Sheltering Arms and VCU Health are relocating existing beds from both organizations’ three current hospitals – Sheltering Arms Hanover (40 beds), Sheltering Arms South (28 beds), and VCU Health (46 beds). Moving patients in phases allows for the most effective accreditation and regulatory reviews, which are standard requirements at a new hospital. Sheltering Arms Institute is on schedule to open its doors on Friday, June 12, 2020. About Sheltering Arms Institute Sheltering Arms and VCU Health System have formed a joint venture, Sheltering Arms Institute, a state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation hospital, that brings together the brand and clinical reputation of Sheltering Arms and the nationally ranked programs of VCU Health. The Institute blends advanced technology, research, and evidence-based clinical treatment to create an innovative, transdisciplinary model of rehabilitative care that will facilitate superior outcomes for patients. All outpatient services for both parent organizations will operate separately for now and into the foreseeable future. For more information, please explore www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com.
