What is a specialty hospital?
Specialty hospitals provide targeted services for specific medical conditions that require specialized skills and technology. They are crucial in bridging the gap between acute care and rehabilitation for patients who are not yet stable for extensive medical rehabilitation. Unlike general hospitals that emphasize shorter stays for acute illnesses, specialty hospitals are specifically designed for patients requiring extended hospitalization to manage their conditions.
“I usually think of a specialty hospital as a step-down unit for critically ill patients,” Dr. Matthew Driewer, a Madonna Specialty Hospital physician who works on the Lincoln Campus, said. “It serves a specific group of patients who no longer meet the criteria for acute care hospitalization but still require daily physician evaluations and intensive nursing.”
What patient populations are treated at a specialty hospital?
Specialty hospitals are uniquely equipped to provide medical care to patients who have experienced the following conditions:
- Strokes
- Traumatic injuries – spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, major multiple trauma
- Cardiac conditions
- Infectious diseases
- Neurological conditions
- Pulmonary/ventilator weaning
- Renal disorders
- Sepsis
- Wound care
What are the benefits of a specialty hospital?
The advantages of using a specialty hospital include:
- Improving throughput in acute care hospitals
- Reducing the risk of medical complications or the development of secondary conditions
- Physician rounding five days a week by internal medicine physicians, supported by physiatrists
- Specially trained nursing and respiratory therapy staff to manage high-acuity care, including ventilator management, wound care, and early mobilization
- Access to the latest technologies to advance the healing process
Why choose Madonna Rehabilitation Specialty Hospital?
Madonna’s Specialty Hospital, the highest level of care in the organization’s full continuum of care, is a licensed long‑term acute care hospital that provides complex care for critically ill patients. Unlike other specialty hospitals, we offer a unique approach that combines medical care with increasing activity tolerance to advance patients to the next level of care.
“Therapy is the ‘special sauce’ at Madonna,” Driewer said. “There is no other specialty hospital in the region that can provide the intensive therapy that Madonna can.”
At Madonna, rehabilitation begins as early as the day after admission. Dr. Susan Ohnoutka, the physician medical director for Madonna’s Omaha Campus, noted this proactive approach can help mitigate medical complications and accelerate patient progress.
“For example, getting a patient on a ventilator up to a chair and working with therapy can help build respiratory muscle strength and facilitate quicker weaning from the ventilator than if they were lying in bed all day,” Ohnoutka said.
Patient-centered care with a collaborative, physician-led team:
Madonna’s successful care model hinges on continuous communication among a diverse team of specialized healthcare professionals. The Madonna care team includes physicians, nurses, therapists, case managers, social workers, neuropsychologists, dietitians, pharmacists, and spiritual counselors–many of whom hold sub-specialty certifications. Patients receive medical evaluations five days a week from physicians or advanced practice providers, along with personalized therapy sessions customized to the patient’s individual needs in occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), and speech therapy five days a week.
“Everyone from the physician and nurses to therapists and counselors, case managers and social workers meet to formally discuss the current status, patient goals, expected outcomes and barriers to goals,” Driewer said. “Each field gets a voice at the table to champion the best for the patient.”
State-of-the-art facilities create a healing environment:
Madonna’s campuses in Lincoln and Omaha were thoughtfully designed with the unique and individualized needs of the patients we serve in mind. They have a residential feel with gardens and green spaces to promote healing. Private patient suites are designed to provide comfort and independence with large windows and natural light; private bathrooms and showers; and accommodations for a family member to stay overnight.
Madonna’s Specialty Hospital stands out as a vital resource for critically ill patients who no longer require traditional hospitalization but still need intensive medical oversight and rehabilitation. By integrating daily physician evaluations, advanced therapy strategies, and a collaborative approach, Madonna ensures that patients receive the care they need to regain their independence.