Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute-Conway Improves Functional Needs of Area Residents

Eight-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit brings specialized treatment, experienced staff

Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute-Conway is now offering specialized treatment to help patients regain their independence and restore them to the highest level of function. It is just one of the ways that Baptist Health is continuing to address the evolving health concerns of residents in Faulkner County and surrounding areas.

The eight-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit, conveniently located on the Baptist Health-Conway campus, treats individuals with a variety of diagnoses and impairments, including: amputation rehabilitation, brain injury rehab, cancer rehab, cardiac rehabilitation, joint replacement, occupational therapy, orthopedics, physical therapy, speech therapy and stroke rehabilitation.

Physical therapy education at the University of Central Arkansas brought Erica Robichaud, physical therapist and rehabilitation clinical coordinator, to Conway – a city she called home since.

Robichaud, who has been in inpatient rehab for more than 13 years, is keenly aware of just what the new inpatient rehabilitation unit means to her community and to Faulkner County as a whole.

“I am incredibly passionate about rehab, the patients and their families,” Robichaud said. “With our name recognition and expertise, we felt confident that we would have the resources to bring a beneficial service to the community. Our goal is to have residents choose Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute-Conway to address their challenges with the Christian compassion and personal concern that our health care organization is known for.”

Each patient at Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute-Conway spends a minimum of three hours a day, five days a week in a mix of therapy sessions customized to their specific condition, including physical, occupational, speech or recreational therapy.

Patients may be referred by physicians, family members, friends or a self-referral. A screening examination may be conducted prior to admission.

“Offering these new treatments to area residents aims to improve the communities we serve,” Robichaud said. “Our inpatient rehab unit gives patients the push to be their best, which in turn helps them to get back to living the healthiest and happiest life that they can.”

The staff works as an interdisciplinary team with the patient and family to aid each patient’s return to the community, provide each patient with state-of-the-art equipment and assist with education and adjustment to the diagnosis.

“Through Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute-Conway, our care team of highly trained specialists is bringing unparalleled rehabilitation services to Faulkner County residents,” said Tim Bowen, President of Baptist Health-Conway. “These additional services reaffirm our commitment to addressing the changing health needs of our community.”

Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute-Conway has daily access to physicians, on-site dialysis, private room and a Neuro-Integrative Functional Rehabilitation and Habilitation (Neuro-IFRAH)- trained therapist for stroke rehab. It additionally has a close working relationship with local prosthetic companies to provide excellent prosthetic/amputation rehab, offers vestibular rehab and has access to a pelvic therapist.

Robichaud notes that the staff is experienced particularly with stroke patients as well as with the amputee population and those with multiple fractures.

“We work well as a team and are eager and passionate to help serve our community and patients to return to their highest possible level of function,” she said. “Our patients have the ability to prepare meals, do laundry and perform daily tasks as if they were in their own home.”

Already, Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute-Conway has built a reputation for itself, Robichaud says.

“Patients and their families have been very appreciative and welcoming,” she said. “We have heard feedback that they have been waiting for Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute to come to Conway for this community and surrounding communities. The community trusts our name and knows that they themselves and their loved ones will receive the best care.”

Robichaud says the inpatient rehabilitation unit plans to continue to grow and expand as the community need grows as well.

The cost of treatment, as with any hospitalization, is covered by Medicare, Workers’ compensation and private insurance carriers.

To begin the admission process or to schedule a tour of Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute-Conway, call (501) 697-5678 or (501) 585-2760. More information is also available by visiting BaptistHealthConway.com.

Baptist Health is Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization with more than 200 points of access that include 11 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community and over 100 primary and specialty care clinics in Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. The system additionally offers a college with studies in nursing and allied health; a graduate residency program; and access to virtual care anytime, anywhere.

As the largest not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, Baptist Health provides care to patients wherever they are through the support of approximately 11,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs. For more information about Baptist Health, visit baptist-health. com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.