Find out the answers to frequently asked questions that our patients and referring providers ask. Can’t find the answers you’re looking for? Contact us!
Sheltering Arms Institute, a collaboration with VCU Health, is a nationally recognized nonprofit physical rehabilitation hospital and network of outpatient centers. Sheltering Arms Institute brings together the brand and clinical reputation of Sheltering Arms and the nationally ranked programs and research of VCU Health.
Sheltering Arms Institute’s main campus is conveniently located just west of Richmond, Virginia near the intersection of Route 288 and West Broad Street, 1.5 miles from I-64. The hospital’s physical address is 2000 Wilkes Ridge Drive Richmond, VA 23233. Additionally, we have seven outpatient centers located throughout Central Virginia. To view all of our locations, please visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com/locations.
Sheltering Arms Institute is its own entity. It is a joint venture between Sheltering Arms and VCU Health, not a merger, and neither organization is acquiring the other. The two organizations are the parent companies of Sheltering Arms Institute.
The patient’s current acute care hospital may arrange transport via ambulance, or the patient may have a family member/caregiver provide transportation.
Sheltering Arms Institute’s main campus is located near major highways to be easily accessible for everyone. Additionally, the campus is on the Greater Richmond Transit System (GRTC) bus stop and affordable transportation is also offered by Uber Health. We also have a Transportation Resource Guide that lists many other transportation services available in the Richmond area.
Yes, there are pools at Sheltering Arms Institute’s Bon Air and Reynolds outpatient centers.
Yes, Sheltering Arms Institute has seven outpatient therapy centers throughout Central Virginia that offer a full range of services custom designed for you. Outpatient therapy can help you continue your progress after graduation from inpatient rehab or can be the starting point of recovery for less severe injuries or illnesses. We provide a seamless transition in your recovery journey by communicating with your care team prior to beginning outpatient therapy. Additionally, our outpatient centers house much of the same advanced technology that is utilized in our inpatient hospital, which provides you the opportunity to continue using many of the same devices as you progress in your recovery to achieve the best outcome.
Sheltering Arms Institute boasts all private, spacious patient rooms with ensuite bathrooms, lay-flat furniture and lounges for visitors, a 9,251 sq. ft. main therapy gym and three on-unit gyms, advanced technology located throughout the hospital, four specialty units, wide doorways to accommodate wheelchairs, large picture windows with views of nature that let in an abundance of natural light, and much more.
Sheltering Arms Institute is a state-of-the-science, destination physical rehabilitation hospital and network of outpatient centers that blends advanced technology, research, and evidence-based clinical treatment. This produces an innovative, transdisciplinary model of rehabilitative care, which facilitates superior outcomes for patients. We are also one of only nine centers in the country to have a dual spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) model systems status.
The experts at Sheltering Arms Institute help people recover from a wide range of illnesses and injuries. We have four specialty units—stroke, spinal cord injury/complex care, traumatic brain injury, and multi-specialty—designed to treat severe and complex neurological and orthopedic conditions.
In addition to these specialty diagnoses, other common diagnoses our patients experience include, but are not limited to:
· Post-Heart Attack· Autoimmune Disorders (i.e., Guillain-Barré Syndrome)· Post-COVID· Limb Loss· Burns· Orthopedic Surgeries· Fractures· And more…
We specialize and treat many other conditions. For a complete list, call (804) 877-4000 or visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com/conditions-and-services to see our full list of services and conditions we treat.
For inpatient rehabilitation, patients need a referral from a physician, hospital, or healthcare facility. For more details about the admissions process to become a patient at our hospital, please visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com/patients-and-visitors/becoming-a-patient or call our admissions team at (804) 877-4000, then press option 1.
For outpatient therapy, please call (804) 764-1000, then press option 2, or visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com/contact-us to request an appointment.
Sheltering Arms Institute accepts patients aged 13 and older.
Most insurance plans are accepted, including Medicare and Medicaid. One of our admissions coordinators works with each patient and their family/caregiver to confirm specific insurance coverage. For a full list of accepted insurances, please visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com/patients-and-visitors/accepted-insurance-and-billing-information.
Yes. Patients must complete an application and screening process to see if they qualify. For more information and to download an application, please visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com/patients-and-visitors/financial-assistance-fees.
The average length of stay at Sheltering Arms Institute for inpatient rehab is 7-21 days; however, this amount of time varies based on each individual’s condition(s).
Yes. Family/caregivers are an important part of the transdisciplinary model of care and may be asked to participate in therapy or educational sessions, particularly as graduation nears. All patient rooms are private and spacious to accommodate visitors. A designated family member or caregiver is welcome to spend the night once approved by a team member. We also have relationships with several nearby affordable hotels and The Doorways, another local nonprofit that provides lodging for out-of-town family members whose loved ones are currently receiving medical care.
Please note: Due to COVID-19, our visitor policy changes frequently. Please visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com/patients-and-visitors/visitor-information for the most up-to-date visitor policy.
Patients may be admitted from acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, or from home. Referrals are accepted from physicians and healthcare facilities in addition to hospitals. Referrals may be made through Allscripts (now Veradigm), Epic, and naviHealth, or via fax to (804) 877-4003. For more information, please visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com/refer-a-patient.
For inpatient rehabilitation at Sheltering Arms Institute, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requires that patients:
· Need at least two of the three following disciplines to be considered a candidate: physical therapy, occupational therapy, and/or speech therapy;· Be able to participate in 15 hours of therapy per week; and· Have medical issues requiring physician oversight while receiving rehabilitation.
For individuals interested in outpatient therapy, one of our customer service representatives can help you or your loved one schedule an initial evaluation by calling (804) 764-1000, then press option 2, or by visiting www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com/contact-us. After your evaluation with a specialist, your therapist will estimate your recovery time and work with you to develop a customized treatment plan to help you achieve your best recovery.
For individuals interested in inpatient rehabilitation, every patient’s journey at Sheltering Arms Institute begins with a thorough pre-admissions assessment and comprehensive evaluation by one of our physicians. Patients often have multiple complex medical complications that must be effectively managed to enable them to fully participate in therapy and set the tone for ongoing recovery.
· Ask your case manager, social worker, or physician to send a referral to the hospital admissions department at Sheltering Arms Institute via Allscripts (now Veradigm), Epic, or naviHealth, or fax (804) 877-4003, including:
Rehab hospital patients are required to participate in a minimum of three hours of therapy each day; however, at Sheltering Arms Institute, we exceed that benchmark. Individuals participating in our program can expect an average of 3-5 hours of therapy each day. In addition to physical, occupational, and speech therapies based on specific needs, other therapies such as recreational therapy and music therapy are a regular part of patients’ schedules.
During downtime, patients may practice walking or activities of daily living. Social and recreational events provide opportunities to socialize and network with others coping with similar diagnoses while enjoying favorite activities. Support groups and peer mentor programs are specially designed for the challenges our patients and their caregivers face. Participants can learn how to adapt to their own unique situations from specialists and each other.
The following schedule is a sample and for illustrative purposes only. Individual schedules vary based on each patient’s care plan and level of injury.
7-9 a.m. – Physician Rounds
8:30-9 a.m. – Breakfast
9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Physical / Occupational / Speech / Recreation / Therapy
12:30-1 p.m. – Lunch
1-4 p.m. – More Therapy
4-5 p.m. – Therapeutic Recreation Groups
5:30-6 p.m. – Dinner
6-7 p.m. – Therapeutic Recreation Groups
7-8 p.m. – Medications and Bedtime Preparations
For more information on how to send a referral or become a patient, please call (804) 877-4000 or visit www.shelteringarmsinstitute.com/contact-us.
