The Sub Acute Unit at Providence Holy Cross takes great pride in being able to provide a home-like environment for our chronically ill patients. For our patients, the unit is their home, sometimes for years and sometimes for the rest of their lives. We strive to make our environment family-friendly, a place of comfort and healing. Sub Acute patients have complex needs and present with varying levels of abilities. To meet criteria for Sub Acute care, the patient must have at least three skilled nursing needs. Presently, all of our patients have tracheostomies, half of our patients are on ventilator support, most have G-tube feedings and catheters. Some of our patients are comatose or in persistent vegetative states, but many are able to interact and participate in activities of daily living. Each month our Activities Team develops a calendar of events and activities. Patients participate in live entertainment, exercise, viewing movies and more. A dedicated volunteer comes in once a week to teach crafts (‘Crafts with Carleen’). We celebrate birthdays by ordering cakes and recognizing each individual with a birthday every month. Holidays are celebrated with planned festivities. One of the big events we celebrate each year is Cinco de Mayo. We open the invitation to this event not only to patients, friends and family, but to the whole medical center. On this day we barbecue more than 200 pounds of chicken and have a Mariachi band. Everyone looks forward to this event! We celebrate Christmas, Easter, the 4th of July and Thanksgiving by inviting friends and families to socialize and share food. Our patients are also in need of spiritual support, so we conduct religious services weekly in our Day Room. Chaplains read inspirational and Biblical writings. There is also fellowship in song, often with live musical accompaniment.
EXEMPLARY PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Sub Acute Unit Connects to Patients & Families
Knowing that our families need help to cope with feelings of loss and frustration, we conduct a monthly Family Support Group. At this group the families share their hopes, fears, stories of encouragement and tears. We serve light refreshments and have a new focus issue each meeting; educational, spiritual, informational, and/or psychosocial. When a loved one passes on, we have memorial services for our patients and family members. Due to the positive relationships we have forged with our patients and families, we have been able to conduct some important research studies in the Sub Acute Unit. Our research on gastrostomy tube residuals and repositioning has been possible because our patients and families trust us to do what is best for the patient’s safety and well-being. It also gives a sense of purpose to our population. The husband (and decision maker) of one patient, a former physician, signed the research consent and said, “She would have wanted to do this to help others”. At the Sub Acute Unit we recognize the worth of each individual life. We work with a great interdisciplinary team to treat our patients holistically. We provide the support necessary to promote independence and the best quality of life possible. The work is not easy, but it is rewarding.
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