UPMC Mercy’s inpatient rehabilitation program has earned a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, or CARF International, the gold standard for accreditation among rehab facilities. In addition to the overall designation, the hospital’s brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke units also received accreditation.
Ranie Patterson, DPT, senior manager of rehab operations at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute
“This is a recognition of the great work we do at Mercy and an opportunity for us to continue improving,” said Ranie Patterson, DPT, senior manager of rehab operations at the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute. “We are always asking ourselves, ‘What can we do better?’ This is a way that we put it on paper to show everybody else that our care is among the best in the world.”
The accreditation recognizes a person-centered approach to care. That means aligning treatment with a patient’s individual goals, according to Gary Galang, M.D., director of traumatic brain injury services at UPMC Mercy.
Gary Galang, M.D., director of traumatic brain injury services at UPMC Mercy
“Everything from length of stay to medications to assistive technology is customized to each patient’s needs,” said Dr. Galang.
CARF surveyors were particularly impressed by UPMC Mercy’s recreational therapy opportunities, like the Gone Fishing and Art With Jared programs. Clinicians’ thoughtful and thorough approach to care also struck a chord.
“Our brain injury unit surveyor said that she got chills from listening to our consult team talking about how care starts before patients even arrive on the unit,” said Patterson.
Accreditation represents an opportunity to share expertise and best practices, as all the surveyors also work as clinicians in other rehabilitation facilities.
“CARF accreditation puts us in a position to help other rehab units as well,” said Galang. “Moving forward, it makes us more motivated to carry the standard.”
UPMC Mercy patients enjoy fishing along the Allegheny River as part of their rehabilitation process.
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