Newman Regional Health hosts activities to promote local rehabilitation services.
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week
(EMPORIA, KS) September 16th through the 22nd marks the National Rehabilitation Awareness Week for 2024. Newman Regional Health Inpatient Rehabilitation Director Jessie Boyce is gearing up to raise local awareness of services offered right here in Emporia. Boyce emphasized the importance of the week, “This is a time for us to connect with community and provide education and awareness about services that are available in our own community. It’s also a time to celebrate our staff and the work they have done with our patients throughout the year.”
During Rehab Week, NRH has planned several activities that will allow the community to engage with the rehabilitation staff and leaders. As the only Critical Access Hosptial in Kansas with an Inpatient Rehab Facility, Newman Regional Health’s main goal for the week is to provide information about the services the rehabilitation unit offers patients and families in and around Emporia. For many patients, the benefits of staying close to home for rehab services are great.
“Patients like to be near home for better access to family and friends, and social workers here are familiar with resources and opportunities in the area. Patients can also return for outpatient therapies and remain with the same therapists.”
Jessie Boyce, RN, Director of Inpatient Medical Rehabilitation
The services at Newman Regional Health include Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Social Work, Nutrition, Orthotics/Prosthetics, and daily supervision by a rehabilitation physician.
As members of the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association, the Newman Regional Health Rehabilitation Unit has a shared mission of transforming lives through access to the highest quality of medical rehabilitation care. The community is invited to join in the celebration of rehab services available right here at home.
To celebrate National Rehabilitation Awareness Week, Newman Regional Health is hosting Relay for Rehab on Tuesday, September 17th at the Flint Hills Mall. The event is open to anyone in the public who is interested in learning about local rehab. The community is invited to engage in rehabilitation activities, explore community vendors and partners in rehabilitation healthcare, enter to win door prizes, and more. Relay for Rehab will run from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.
On Wednesday, September 18th local senior citizens are invited to listen to a presentation by Inpatient Rehabilitation staff about the therapies and care they can receive at Newman Regional Health. This Rehabilitation Luncheon is happening at the Emporia Senior Center during their regularly scheduled lunchtime meal. Attendees can get a $5 meal for lunch and learn from the presentation beginning at 11:00am.
During the week of September 16-22, Newman Regional Health is also taking donations of gently used Durable Medical Equipment to help future patients. From walkers and wheelchairs to shower chairs and commodes, donations can be made from 8:00am – 4:00pm at Newman Regional Health Entrance F. Donations can also be dropped off at the Relay for Rehab event on Tuesday.
“We often have patients who are not insured and still require equipment. Most insurances will only cover one piece of equipment at a time. Items like commodes and shower chairs are not covered by insurance, so some patients just don’t have the funds or access to purchase their own equipment.”
Jessie Boyce, RN, Director of Inpatient Medical Rehabilitation
