Become a Patient

To become a patient at one of our outpatient centers or clinics, please call (804) 764-1000 or submit our online referral form.

Prior to arrival, each patient’s case is reviewed by one of our physicians. Your clinical referral liaison will alert you if and when your case has been approved for admission. If you or your loved one has not yet been assigned a clinical referral liaison to guide you through the admissions process, please refer to the admissions process section below.

During your stay at Sheltering Arms Institute, your care will be under the direction of one of our physicians. Your physician will communicate and collaborate with your primary care physician or surgeon as needed.

It is helpful if a responsible family member or friend can come with you upon arrival to provide information during the admission process, especially if communication is difficult for you. If this is not possible, please send a telephone number where this person can be reached.

1. Ask your case manager, social worker, or physician to send a referral to the admissions department at Sheltering Arms Institute Hospital via NaviHealth, AllScripts, or fax (804) 877-4001, including:
   • General information, including name, date of birth, address, emergency contact, and insurance information
   • History and physical
   • Medication administration list
   • Most recent physician notes
   • Therapy evaluation(s) and most recent therapy treatment notes
2. A clinical referral liaison will be assigned to your case to evaluate your healthcare needs by visiting you, speaking to your family, and reviewing your medical chart.
3. Once the clinical referral liaison gathers all necessary information, he or she will review your case with a Sheltering Arms Institute physician to determine if you meet the criteria for inpatient rehabilitation.

For more information on becoming a patient at our rehabilitation hospital, please call (804) 877-4000.

Why Are Potential Patients Evaluated?

As a physical rehabilitation hospital, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requires us to:

• Admit patients who have medical needs that require physician oversight while receiving rehabilitation.
• Verify that patients need at least two of the three following disciplines to be considered as a candidate:
  • Physical Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Speech Therapy