NEWS FROM HEALTHSOUTH 
May 4, 2010
Tess Sucher, Director of Marketing Operations and Admissions

AGING POPULATION MEANS STROKE NUMBERS COULD RISE
REHABILITATION IS KEY IN RECOVERY

SANDY, Utah – As we recognize Stroke Awareness Month this month, the following numbers shed light on the potential exponential growth of Stroke sufferers and survivors.

• According to the U.S. Census the older population will burgeon between the years 2010 and 2030 as the “baby boom” generation reaches age 65.
• At the same time, one of the most frequently occurring conditions in older persons happens to be hypertension (41 percent), a leading indicator for Stroke.
• Family members need to know not only the warning signs of stroke, but the recovery options as well.

For Stroke Survivors, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Utah offers a unique combination of both traditional and technological therapeutic advances to provide individualized stroke recovery plans based on specific patient needs.

Family members and caregivers should do their own research and ask the following questions when looking at rehabilitation options following stroke:
• Does the organization use a "team approach" as the model for rehabilitation?
• Is there a rehabilitation specialist leading the team?
• Are educational groups and seminars provided?
• How accessible is staff?
• How many hours of therapy are provided each day?
• How many patients return home - instead of going to nursing homes?
• How often does the doctor visit patients?
• What is the average length of stay?
• Is there a case manager who works with the family?
• Are there programs that concentrate on activities of daily living?
• What about vocational training?
• How extensive is your cognitive rehabilitation program?
At HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Utah we provide an average of 3-5 hours of therapy a day, five to six days a week depending on the patient’s level. We use a team approach and have a physician on site that makes daily rounds.

In addition, we offer new technology-based therapy utilizing specialized computer software and balance platforms, body-weight supported treadmill training, voice generating systems, dynamic wrist hand splinting stations, gait assessment training systems, and visual field training.

While the incidents of stroke may be on the rise, HealthSouth is working hard to make sure those who experience a stroke get the therapy they need to return home and maintain an independent lifestyle.

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Utah is an 84-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital that provides a higher level of rehabilitative care to patients who are recovering from stroke and other neurological disorders, brain and spinal cord injury, amputations, orthopedic, cardiac and pulmonary conditions. Accredited by The Joint Commission, the hospital is located at 8074 South 1300 East, Sandy, UT 84094 and can be found on the Web at www.healthsouthutah.com.

HealthSouth is the nation’s largest provider of inpatient rehabilitative healthcare services. Operating in 26 states across the country and in Puerto Rico, HealthSouth serves patients through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation satellites, and home health agencies. HealthSouth strives to be the nation’s preeminent provider of inpatient rehabilitative healthcare services and can be found on the Web at www.healthsouth.com.