NORWICH – Valley View Manor nursing home and rehabilitation center, in Norwich, boasts a recently constructed $1 million rehab suite, making it the area's leader in short term rehabilitation.
With the addition of the new rehabilitation suite, Valley View Manor has been able to log approximately 6,000 short-term rehab hours in 2014, an average of 92 percent return to the community, and an average short-term stay of under 24 days.
The rehabilitation suite at Valley View offers a full range of rehabilitation services. The suite boasts a full kitchen where patients can cook a full meal from start to finish, there is a step exercise station, and even a Nintendo Wii for patients to work on balance and coordination. These are just a small portion of what Valley View offers in the way of rehabilitation services.
“Our goal is to get people back to doing what they would do in a normal day,” said Sam Suleiman, Valley View Administrator.
By the end of 2015, Valley View plans on making improvements to its already comprehensive rehab suite. They hope to add a ceiling mounted rail system to help with patients that cannot support their full weight. They want to open up their suite to outpatient physical and occupational therapy rehab services. And they have plans to install an on site dialysis center. With these additions, Valley View will be able to better serve their residents and the local community, Suleiman said.
In addition to the construction of the rehabilitation suite, Valley View Manor also employs an advanced team of therapists whose combined expertise adds up to over 45 years of experience. Valley View has Melissa Perry, Physical Therapist and Director of Rehabilitation Services; Penny Kubik, OTA/L; and Chris Conguilairo, Regional Occupational Therapist. The rehabilitation staff at Valley View are highly trained in McKenzie methods, hands and vision therapy, and cognitive retraining. All of Valley View's therapists are employees of the facility and not contractors, offering patients better continuity of care.
With these resources at their fingertips, Valley View can offer rehabilitation programs that are tailored to each individual based on their unique needs. “Most rehabilitation facilities offer cookie-cutter rehab programs,” said Deb Zionc, Marketing Manager for Valley View. “At Valley View, we know that one size does not fit all. Everyone at Valley View is an individual.”
Part of this individualization of care comes in the way of the revolutionary rehabilitation techniques that are employed at Valley View. For improved recovery and independence, Valley View rehab employs medical technology called therapeutic modalities. This includes ultrasound, shortwave diathermy, and electrical stimulation. These treatments are useful in the treatment of a variety of ordinary conditions such as slow healing wounds, balance issues, bladder problems, pain and swelling due to arthritis, and muscle weakness.
Valley View Manor also has relationships with five other facilities situated around New York State. With access to these facilities and their staff, Valley View is able to expand its available services. Valley View's sister facilities are located in Rome, Wellsville, Owego, Ithaca, and Syracuse.
Valley View boasts 82 beds, all of which are private or semi private, and are situated in rooms that have been upgraded within the last six years. Upgrades include Wi-Fi service, cable television, flat screen TVs, and dry-erase whiteboards. “Our goal is to not inconvenience the residents,” said Suleiman. “This is their home and we are the guests in their homes.”
A full nursing staff and doctors are on site at Valley View Manor, making the facility more like a hospital than simply a nursing home. Valley View offers services for clinically complex patients. Services that formerly could only be found in hospitals. Valley View has Gregory O'Keefe as Medical Director, Jemmille Smith as Attending Physician, and Nurse Practitioner Sherry Wheerlock. With this staff, Valley View can offer in-facility physician services five days a week.
The facility also employs a full-time Director of Social Services. Molly Wilson, MSW, helps with the challenges that affect many patients with disabling mental and physical conditions.
Valley View also offers a full gamut of entertainment for its residents. The facility not only has a full calendar of in house events, but it organizes trips into the local community for a variety of occasions. “We have our own transportation so people can get out into the community,” said Suleiman. “We don't want to alienate their community ties.”
Valley View Manor is one of the only facilities of its kind in this area to receive a five star rating from the centers for Medicaid and Medicare. This rating is based on staffing, health inspections, and quality measures.