Sheltering Arms Institute Recognized as Partner in MS Care by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society 11.03.2023 The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has officially established Sheltering Arms Institute’s Laburnum outpatient center and physical therapist Morgan Largen, PT, DPT, NCS, MSCS, as a Partner in MS Care. This recognition acknowledges the clinic’s dedication to delivering outstanding care for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Partners in MS Care are healthcare providers, including but not limited to, physical therapists, mental health providers, neurologists, and physicians. These providers demonstrate a knowledge of expertise in treating MS and have an established relationship with the National MS Society. To become a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist (MSCS), individuals must meet specific requirements, including working a designated number of hours with the MS population and having the requisite education and knowledge related to MS. After acquiring this certification, the healthcare provider is listed as an expert partner in care on the Partners in Care website, enabling users to search for specialists in their local area by zip code. Morgan believes having this certification at the Laburnum outpatient center will significantly benefit patients. “MS is such a complex disease, and patients are so unique. They can really tell when someone has the knowledge and skillset directly related to MS, so having [our care] tied to the National MS Society gives people the confidence that we provide expert care,” she said. Being a certified specialist has allowed her to better educate and provide for her patients. She stated, “As a Partner in Care, I can easily get resources and tie people to different providers through the National MS Society.” Morgan’s fascination with neurology began during her time in physical therapy school, where she later decided she wanted to be a neurologic-rehab provider. Her particular interest and passion to serve the MS population led her to expand the MS program. Morgan explains that once she sees a patient, she becomes part of their life. “We are able to check in with people more than they check in with their doctors really, so you truly become a care partner.” To learn more about Sheltering Arms Institute’s MS program, click here, or to search for a Partner in MS Care near you, click here.
Sheltering Arms Institute to Expand Inpatient Physical Rehab Hospital 10.02.2023 RICHMOND, Va. (October 2, 2023) — Sheltering Arms Institute, a collaboration with VCU Health, has received approval from the Virginia Department of Health to expand its inpatient rehabilitation hospital following a certificate of public need (COPN) application process. The facility, located just west of Short Pump in West Creek, provides care for individuals recovering from a variety of illnesses or injuries, including strokes, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries, as well as those in need of general rehabilitation for various neurological diseases and disorders. The 30 additional beds, which will also be used to provide rehabilitative care, will bring the hospital’s total number of beds to 144. “Since we opened in June of 2020, we have seen immense need for the high-quality physical rehabilitation services that our team members provide, serving more than 2,000 people each year from across the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond,” said Alan Lombardo, CEO of Sheltering Arms Institute. “Our goal is to further increase access to help people achieve their best recovery and live healthy, independent lives.” The 30 new patient rooms will be built on the fourth floor of the hospital, which currently exists as shell space that was constructed as part of the 212,000-square-foot current structure in anticipation of future need. The total capital cost of the project is an estimated $25 million with anticipated funding to include a combination of bank financing and equity contributions from joint venture members Sheltering Arms and VCU Health. Construction will begin once a contractor is selected and is anticipated to take approximately 18 months to complete. About Sheltering Arms Institute Sheltering Arms Institute is a non-profit, 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 through a joint venture. Ranked among the nation’s best rehabilitation hospitals and the top rehab hospital in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report, 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.
U.S. News & World Report Names Sheltering Arms Institute Among Best Hospitals Nationwide for 2023-2024 in Physical Rehabilitation 08.01.2023 RICHMOND, Va. (August 1, 2023) — Sheltering Arms Institute has been named by U.S. News & World Report to its 2023-2024 Best Hospitals. The rankings assist patients and their doctors in choosing the right hospital for them. In its first year eligible and of the 1,041 physical rehabilitation hospitals that were evaluated, Sheltering Arms Institute ranks 29th in the country in the physical rehabilitation specialty and is the top rehabilitation hospital in the state of Virginia. “The team members at Sheltering Arms Institute focus on helping each patient achieve their best possible outcomes. This recognition is a testament to the outstanding patient care they provide every day,” said Alan Lombardo, CEO of Sheltering Arms Institute. U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 hospitals across 15 specialties and 21 procedures and conditions; only 12% of evaluated hospitals earned a Best Hospitals ranking. Hospitals awarded a “Best” designation excelled at factors such as clinical outcomes, level of nursing care, and patient experience. For more information on the U.S. News Best Hospitals, explore Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using #BestHospitals. About Sheltering Arms Institute Sheltering Arms Institute is a non-profit and donor-supported 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 through a joint venture. 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 U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate, Careers and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Wearable Robot Helps Graduate Walk Across Stage 05.15.2023 RICHMOND, Va. (May 15, 2023) — A wearable robotic exoskeleton that has enabled more than 125 million steps around the world is helping one young man walk across the stage at his graduation. In May 2016, just weeks before his high school graduation, Khalil Watson was shot in the neck causing a devastating spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed. Instead of walking across the stage to receive his diploma from Highland Springs High School as he had planned, Watson streamed his graduation ceremony from a hospital bed. Since his injury seven years ago, Watson—now 25—has worked tirelessly to regain his mobility and independence, relearning how to breathe, eat, speak, and care for himself. “One of my goals is to be as independent as possible,” Watson said. “When we started therapy after Khalil’s injury, he needed significant assistance for any mobility. Now, he is progressively increasing the amount of movement he can do on his own. Every time I see him, he masters a new skill,” added Christina Smith, PT, DPT, NCS, physical therapist at Sheltering Arms Institute. Another one of Watson’s goals was to continue his education. In 2019, he began working on his associate degree in pre-social work from Reynolds Community College. “Helping people is something that I’m passionate about,” Watson said about why it was important for him to earn his degree. “Going through what I’ve had to go through and am still going through makes it easier for me to connect with people who are either going through a similar situation or worse.” Two of Watson’s therapists at Sheltering Arms Institute will help him utilize cutting-edge robotic technology to walk across the stage and receive his diploma, a walk seven years in the making. “Being able to walk across the stage will mean everything to me, especially since I wasn’t able to do so in high school. I can finally say all of my hard work has paid off,” Watson said. This fall, Watson plans to transfer to VCU to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work. About Sheltering Arms Institute Sheltering Arms Institute is 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 through a joint venture. 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.
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.
