A New Partnership Expands the TIRR Memorial Hermann Continuum of Care to Include Transitional Rehabilitation

The Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Network, affiliated with TIRR Memorial Hermann, has partnered with University Place, a Memorial Hermann adult living community, to offer the full continuum of transitional rehabilitative care for patients who require short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing care and therapy following hospitalization.

"The new partnership aligns with Memorial Hermann’s vision of offering residents of the Greater Houston area and beyond an integrated care delivery system that provides an exact match to the level of care they need at every stage of life,” says Carl Josehart, TIRR Memorial Hermann CEO and system executive for rehabilitation services. “As part of the system’s commitment to advancing health, Memorial Hermann provides superior care beginning with emergency transport by air ambulance to acute care through skilled nursing care and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation when they’re needed. Transitional rehabilitation serves as a bridge between these levels of care, helping people transition seamlessly from one level to the next and ultimately, back to their homes and lives.”

Three programs at University Place complete the continuum of care offered though the Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Network. Residents can choose to be part of the adult living community and easily access the services they need to remain independent. The 60-bed University Place Nursing Center, ranked a five-star nursing facility by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and U.S. News & World Report, provides a broad range of individualized care including skilled nursing and long-term nursing care. “Regardless of the level of care a person requires, Memorial Hermann can provide it seamlessly across the system through one integrated electronic medical record and an integrated group of providers committed to fostering the highest level of independence possible,” Josehart says.

The transitional rehabilitation program’s interdisciplinary team consists of a medical director, advisory physicians, 24-hour nursing care and a social worker, with consultation as required from the physicians and staff affiliated with Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Network. Specialized therapies available include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, respiratory therapy and wound care.

The comprehensive rehabilitation program addresses the needs of patients with joint replacement, multiple trauma, musculoskeletal issues, non-healing wounds and stroke, as well as patients who are minimally conscious. “The programs we offer at University Place are a good complement to the inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs available at TIRR Memorial Hermann and through the Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Network,” says Paul Friesen, COO of University Place. “To qualify for inpatient admission to a rehabilitation hospital or unit, a patient must be able to tolerate at least three hours of therapy per day. Our skilled nursing program maximizes at two hours of therapy a day, offering patients who aren’t strong enough to manage three hours an opportunity to build the strength they need to move on to inpatient rehabilitation programs at TIRR Memorial Hermann or the Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Network.

“We’re excited about possibilities for the future,” Friesen adds. “Our reputation for rehabilitation is already strong. As part of the Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Network, our therapists and nurses have access to education that has increased their skill level, which in turn has increased the acuity level of care we provide.”