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Rehabilitation Institute at Santa
Barbara a Story of Renewal, Hope
Occupying a vital link in the
continuum of medical services on the Central Coast,
Rehabilitation Institute at Santa Barbara (RISB)
provides comprehensive medical rehabilitation for people
with brain and spinal cord injury, stroke, neurological
and orthopedic problems and many other conditions. The
nonprofit specialty hospital relies on a comprehensive
array of services to empower people with physical
disabilities to achieve optimal quality of life.
The RISB team includes occupational,
physical and recreational therapists, nurses, doctors,
psychologists, neurophysiologists, speech/language
pathologists and case managers. Services are available
for both inpatients and outpatients. Keck Center for
Outpatient Services is available for any individual
referred through a physician.
Patients who have suffered accidents
or illnesses are referred to RISB for inpatient services
through their physicians at acute-care hospitals such as
Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital. Such referrals are ready
to receive three hours of intensive therapy a day to
begin their path toward recovery and independence. In
the last quarter of 2006, 95 percent of RISB inpatients
were discharged to their homes rather than to other
levels of care in the community — a figure that
surpasses national averages.
The RISB team works with the “whole”
person, the physical and the psychological, to optimize
healing. By identifying areas of brain impairment,
neurophysiologists help target therapies while
psychologists work with pain management and depression.
Because family and friends are an important part of the
patient's life and motivation, they are encouraged to
participate in both physical and psychology therapies.
Aquatic therapy is available for
inpatients, outpatients as well as community members at
the Tuohy Foundation Aquatic Center. Specialized
programs at RISB — such as adaptive driving, gardening,
music and art, stroke support groups and other outreach
into the community — all contribute to a healing
environment.
Therapeutic Recreation, or TR, is a
big part of RISB's mission to renew hope and nurture
independence. Giving back the joy of daily living
through activities that were enjoyed before is an
important part of motivation and healing. Adapted sports
including golf, kayaking, scuba, tennis, horseback
riding and much more are provided through the TR team.
Patient health insurances include
Medicare, Medicaid and private insurances. Because of
the quality and comprehensive services that are not
always covered but which are essential to optimizing
recovery, RISB receives only an average 77 cents on the
dollar of care as reimbursement. As a result, the
nonprofit 501(c)3 organization relies on the community's
financial support to remain as a unique rehabilitation
facility between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
For a personal tour or more
information, call (805)687-7444 or visit
www.risb.org |
