Home \ Issues \ Featured Issues \ Health Care Tour: “Seeking Patient-Centered Care”
Health Care Tour: “Seeking Patient-Centered Care”
Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital
The Issue:
- For many patients health care in a hospital is only the first stage. Rehabilitation returns injured or disabled persons back to productive life and can save millions in care long-term, but many insurance plans do not include sufficient coverage.
Findings:
- Roger C. Peace has provided inpatient and outpatient specialty care for more than 25 years and is one of the most respected rehabilitation centers in the region. It cares for people with early and late life strokes, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and other conditions.
- A sampling of 860 patients admitted to Roger C. Peace
- 40 % were orthopedic injuries; 25% were stroke; 16% were brain injury; 9% were debility and pain; 7% spinal cord; 2% neurological impairment.
- The average length of stay was 15 days (national average is 14).
- 85% of the patients were able to return home (national average is 74%).
- Rep. Inglis heard the story of Travis Fortson, a salesman for Novartis, who was hurt July 9, 2007, when he was struck by a truck while helping another motorist who had crashed on Interstate 85. Fortson suffered a crushed pelvis and lost his right leg at about mid-thigh. He was in GHS for 15 days. He told Rep. Inglis that the rehabilitation at Roger C Peace made the difference in his being able to get back to work and productive again. “They teach people how to get by with all you got and make sure you are ready.” Insurance was very cooperative for Fortson in paying for rehabilitation, most of which was through Worker’s Comp because it was an on-the-job injury. He will be going to Florida to get a prosthetic and hopes to investigate getting a “Power Knee.”
- Fortson said he was aware that for many private insurance plans, a patient will need an attorney to get any rehabilitation beyond basic care. There are many cases where a patient is unlikely to get the full range of services.
- Rep. Inglis also met with Walter Roark, 59, a stroke patient, and Alvin Jones, 79, who fell off a 25-foot ladder and broke his leg.
- Rehabilitation Care for severe injuries such as brain injury are hard to get covered for the number of days needed. There is a need for catastrophic care and reinsurance for severe cases. The problem comes when insurance plans cap the number of days covered for rehabilitation.
- Roger C. Peace admits about 1,000 adults a year and has about 200 outpatients.
- The hospital is seeing a significant number of young stroke patients (under 65) as well.
- The hospital partners with the state’s Department of Disability and Special Needs.
When: Monday, June 2, 2008
Where: 701 Grove Road, Greenville, SC 29605
Hosts: Stan Healy, Administrator, Roger C. Peace Hospital, Dr. Sheldon Herring, Ph.D, director