Courtyards at Pasadena Long Care Facility - Term Paper Example

Courtyards at Pasadena Long-Term Care Facility Courtyards at Pasadena Long-Term Care Facility Introduction Long term care in the United States currently involve the provision of a wide range of medical, rehabilitation and support services intended to help meet the diverse needs of frail senior persons and patients with functional limitations due to chronic illnesses, physical or cognitive injuries and mental disabilities as well as other health related conditions. However, despite the existence of excellent long term care services across the country, many of the facilities still face a number of challenges (Harris-Kojetin, et al., 2013). The Courtyards at Pasadena nursing home is one of the largest private nursing homes in Texas, offering excellent long term care services including medications and meals to both patients and their families. Located in Pasadena, within the greater Huston area, Texas, the long term care facility provides 24 hour nursing care services to a wide range of patients including seniors with disabilities and serious illnesses. The environment at the Houston based facility is particularly designed to provide the residents with a comfortable life and make them feel part of the community. Although many patients attending the facility are those requiring long term nursing and medical supervision, Courtyards at Pasadena also offers specialized long term care programs for a wide range of illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease. According to Courtyards at Pasadena’s official website (2014), the facility is managed by a for-profit corporation and is part of a multiple nursing home chain and not located in a particular hospital. With 196 beds and close to 125 residents, the registered nurse occupancy rate at Courtyards at Pasadena is above average. The nurses form part of the highly trained team of professionals at the facility who are always ready to provide all sorts of assistance towards developing individualized care plans for the patients in order to achieve the desired care goals. All the professional staff as well as the independent staff and consultants at the organization are highly committed to working with the residents and patients as partners in order to effectively meet their diverse individualized health care, coordination and rehabilitation needs. In addition, as part of its financial considerations, the organization allows its clients to explore available financial options including Medicaid, Medicare, private funding and insurance managed funding among others. However, what make Courtyards at Pasadena nursing home particularly special with regard to the provision of excellent care services are the facility’s high quality patient care programs, highly trained care givers and provision of other specialized amenities. This paper discusses Courtyards at Pasadena nursing home with particular focus to its provision of high superior care services to patients and their families. Service Provision at Courtyards at Pasadena Courtyards at Pasadena nursing home offers a wide range of excellent long term care services ranging from rehabilitation programs, pulmonary programs, recovery care services and wound management programs. The high standard care services are the facility’s high quality patient care programs is particularly designed to provide a healthy long term living environment for the patients or to enable the residents to effectively get back into the community. Firstly, the rehabilitation programs offered by the facility are particularly designed to help maximize the capabilities of each of the patients as well as promote their level of independence by providing them with therapy treatments, monitoring, assessment and different treatment modalities. According to the Courtyards at Pasadena (2014), the rehabilitation programs at the facility not only provide a wide range of patient rehabilitation related services such as communication and cognitive augmentation, mobility and endurance recovery, pain management, orthotic fitting, dysphasia management, community living skills restoration and activities of daily living among others. In addition, the courtyard of Pasadena is fully committed to the maximization of this organization’s capabilities for each and every patient whether covered by Medicaid/Medicare or not. This clinical health care provider’s unit promotes each person’s independence practical level to the highest degree. Therapy treatment in the rehabilitation programs is ultimately provided in an out of this world standard by the skilled clinicians. The therapy Centre is accordingly well-equipped and designed largely with the latest therapy assessment, treatment and monitoring modalities. The teams of clinicians in the rehabilitant department are specialized in the understanding of the individual patients’ needs and how to candidly adjust the rehabilitation pace in order to maximize adversely the success of each patient. The clinicians team ultimately provide a full services range including; endurance recovery, mobility, cognitive augmentation, pain management, dysphasia management orthotic fitting and training, activities of daily living and the community living skills restoration at large. Another important service offered by the facility is the pulmonary program. For example, The Courtyard at Pasadena resorted into creating a pulmonary Medical Specialty Unit. This department arose as a result of the communal increase in heart related diseases. The ultimate goal of Courtyards of Pasadena’s pulmonary program is to maximize the patient’s levels of autonomy and independence and increase the life quality regardless of the prognosis conditions of these infections (Harris-Kojetin, et al., 2013). The pulmonary specialist teams in this unit are led by an independent pulmonologists consisting of physicians with ideal expertise in the control of the conditions of the lungs. Additionally, nurses are also inter-departmentally trained and well-equipped with the extraordinary management skills of the heart pulmonary infections. The focal clinical practice of this unit is the management and habilitation of individual patients has pulmonary conditions. Pulmonary conditions are the conditions of the lungs and airways like pneumonia and COPD. This organization is well equipped with piped oxygen through the walls as well as a medical air and wall suctioning air systems. Physicians: The physicians in the Courtyard of Pasadena Nursing Home as some of the most ethical stable and respectful clinicians in the field of medical professionalism. This organization comprehends that the choice of competent physicians is one of the vital health care decisions a future oriented organization can bank on. Each and every physician privileged to practice at Pasadena must have been in one way or the other credentialed by the competent Medical Director Quality Assurance Committee. However, Pasadena do not employ physicians but it has partnered with a variety of a team of specialists in order to meet the patients endless needs. Finally, wound care management sums up some of the best services provided by Courtyard of Pasadena Nursing Home. The Courtyard of Pasadena is greatly committed to delivering quality and efficient ostomy and wound care to the patients with various medical needs. The loss of skin color can psycho-medically affect the social well-being of patients suffering from either chronic or acute debilitation. The major goal of wound healing department is to aide in the quick wound healing process. At the Courtyard at Pasadena, there is a partnership of the wound department with independent certified wound care specialists. These physicians care is incorporated with continuous quality nursing care and retrogressively progressive nursing care modalities such as; intensive diabetic stabilization and management, antibiotic therapy, antibiotic therapy, superficial chemical debridement nutritional analysis and regular intervention by registered dietician and lastly specialty mattresses provision with fully equipped pressure relieving devices. All these service provision attributes of Courtyards at Pasadena puts it at the epitome of clinical healthcare provision as compared to other nursing homes. Amenities at the Facility Although the amenities found at the Courtyard of Pasadena excellent long term care services are primarily geared towards rehabilitation of the patients, the other important amenities for both the patients and their families at the facility include Cable TV, Housekeeping and laundry services, Daily activity programs, furnishing of residents as well as salon services. In addition, the facility also currently offers a wide range of activities such as birthday parties, community events, Bingo, church services, entertainment and regular bus trips among others. The Courtyards of Pasadena nursing home was firstly accepted as a Medicare in 1994 with a capacity of 116 out of 103 community residents as the targeted patients (The Courtyards at Pasadena, 2014). During its establishment period, Pasadena Care Center’s occupational percentage was at about 83 percent with most in-patients incapacitating the rehabilitation department. The program participation of this healthcare provider is majored on both the Medicaid and Medicare health insurance covers. This clinical health care provider organization targeted mainly the family councils which did not necessarily require in hospital programs. Additionally, this medical corporate did not have provisions for the continuing care retirement community as well as special focus facility. Lastly, in its mandate, Pasadena care center provided for an auto sprinkler system in the required areas. This research paper explains the services provided at the Courtyards of Pasadena in regard to clinical medicine practitioners requirements. According to many sources, Pasadena long term care facility is currently rated among the best in the United States (The Courtyards at Pasadena (2014). Located in the Houston area this care facility attracts many patients and individuals who need nursing aid from within and outside the city. Long- term care services are majorly set up for the elderly because they are delicate and need tender love and care. This group of people always has physical limitations which compromises most of their physical and mental capabilities (MacGeer et. al., 2012). Generally, the care facilities at Pasadena can be divided into four groups. These are skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility, nursing facility and long term care hospital. More on these facilities will be discussed in this document and what makes them special at the courtyards at Pasadena. Long term care Hospital At the courtyards of Pasadena long term care hospital services are provided for (The Courtyards at Pasadena (2014). These services are for the disabled, ill and the injured. The long term care hospital services are basically hospitals but with an improved degree of care to the patients. The uniqueness of this facility is that it provides the services found in an immediate care facility, a skilled nursing facility and in a nursing facility. This facility will handle a patient through all the stages of illness. From the worse stages of an illness to the moment it subsides, this service is able to provide for the patient needs. Skilled Nursing Facility A skilled nursing facility is a place at a courtyard where specialised nursing care is provided. Rehabilitation and other services in that manner are also provided in this facility (MacGeer et. al., 2012). The clients to this kind of facility always need care for more than twenty four hours consecutively. Majority of people found in this facility are usually the disabled, the ill or the injured persons. At the courtyards at Pasadena these services are provided for in a special section. Intermediate Care Facility An intermediate care facility does not necessarily offer medical care facilities. Its specialization is on food, shelter and nursing (MacGeer et. al., 2012). These services are provided for consecutively for more than twenty four hours just as in the skilled nursing facility. The clients in such a facility do not need hospitalization of nursing services that are skilled. Just as in skilled nursing facility, clients are the injured, disabled and the ill that do not require hospitalization. These services are also provided by at the courtyards at Pasadena but in a different department (The Courtyards at Pasadena (2014). This sort of organization at the courtyards of Pasadena ensures that specialization of workers is enhanced. This means that an employee will gain more skills when working with a specific type of client. The types of services offered therefore easily improve and are easy to manage. Nursing Facility A nursing facility is one where special medical attention is required. Rehabilitation, nursing care and related services are on top of the list for this kind of facility (MacGeer et. al., 2012). Also offered are intermediate treatment requirements. In this case, services are needed for more than twenty four hours consecutively. Clients also belong to the group of disabled, ill and the injured. A nursing facility is sometimes used as a recovery centre for patients who would like to leave the hospital environment but still need a lot of care. These services are provided for at the courtyards of Pasadena (The Courtyards at Pasadena (2014). These services are separated from the above services by physical location within the courtyard. Quality of the Long Term Care Services at the Courtyards at Pasadena The Courtyards at Pasadena nursing has been numerously cited as one of the best nursing homes in Texas and the Country in general due to its superior quality long term care services particularly to the seniors patients and those with disabilities or serious illnesses. However, although many patients attending the facility are currently those in need of long term nursing and medical supervision, Courtyards at Pasadena also offers specialized long term care programs for a wide range of long term complications and illnesses. The organization in its evidence based practices believes that people wellness is the result of attention and compressive care. Herein, the Courtyards at Pasadena is fully committed to providing compassionate, quality and supportive care to its residents. On the other hand, as earlier been noted, the courtyard of Pasadena is a non-profit organization. This means that the ultimate goal of the courtyard is to provide services to the members of the society. The money collected from the clients is basically for the maintenance of the facility and the services provided rather than profit making. This attribute makes the courtyard to be attractive to many clients. In this way the number of clients becomes big and the growth of the facility becomes inevitable. The ratio of nursing staff to the clients is generally up to the required standards at courtyards at Pasadena (Gurwitz et. al., 2013). In addition, the average working hours for the nurses helping in the management of patients is not usually past four hours. In this case the patients get better services from nurses who are not tired or overworked and overwhelmed by the work force. The quality of amenities such as bathrooms, toilets, dressing, food and social centers are up to standards. The quality of these amenities ensures that cross contamination from one patient to the other is reduced. New infections are also reduced. If the toilets are dirty and water is not well treated, a care facility is likely to become a hazard for its clients and patients who need special medical need. The environment at the courtyard at Pasadena is serene and is well taken care of. The trees and the flowers are planted in a relaxing way. This attracts clients and makes the environment look peaceful for the patients, coupled with hospitability of the nurses, courtyard at Pasadena a place of love and care. The management and organization at Pasadena is of world class standards. This brings quality into the service and makes Pasadena courtyards to be excellent. According to the Courtyards at Pasadena (2014), the serene environment at the Houston based facility is particularly designed to provide the residents with a comfortable life and make them feel part of the community. The experience of the patients and their families is further enhanced by the fact families, friends and relatives of the patients or residents are allowed to visit their loved ones any time with limited restrictions. Generally, the two core programs of Courtyards at Pasadena include; the rehabilitation program and the long term care programs. In the rehabilitation program, the clinical team efficiently and effectively evaluates each resident’s unique circumstances to establish and meet individualized objectives. During the treatment sessions, therapists work towards the improvement of individual patient’s strength, confidence and independence. Long-Term Care those who may need assistance from a 24-hour nursing availability. In the Long-Term care programs, this organization assists with the provision of meals, medication as well as other important daily living activities. The environments at The Courtyards at Pasadena are designed healthily so that the residents may live comfortably as a part of this community. Challenges Facing Pasadena Care Long term Care Facility Despite its excellent services, superior amenities and a dedicated team of professionals, the Courtyards at Pasadena nursing home has faced as number of challenges and sometimes criticisms in a couple of areas. For example, although the facility allows its clients to explore available financial options such as Medicaid and Medicare funding, the current Medicare rating is currently low with 1 star out of 5 stars. In addition, The Courtyards at Pasadena long term care facility has also been criticized for allegations of bad nursing staff and sometimes below average services. Generally, at the facility, each and every issue is evaluated based on two major scales of Medicare provisions. These scales are; the severity of the potential problem or the number of community residents affected by the problems based on the actual harms caused. In the dealing with immediate jeopardy to the residents’ health or safety, it has been a great area of concern by the Pasadena Care Center especially due to the emerging emergencies in the clinical practices. When it comes to the operations relating to actual harms to the residents which is not an immediate jeopardy, Pasadena attends a limited number of residents affected by these clinical medical problems. Lastly, in cases without actual harms with potential minimal harms issues are relevantly dealt with rationally in relation to the intensity of these medical problems by Pasadena Care Center management. The courtyard at Pasadena is a proud nursing home owing to its good reputation historically in relation to community health care provision. This organization treasures its relationship with community residents and families. In this organization, it ultimately strives to maximize and enhance the quality of life to the community around its environment’s in a compassionate and professional manner. Fortunately, Courtyard at Pasadena have a team of well-trained healthcare professionals that assists this organization’s patients and alternatively assist the organization in the development of individualized plans of care in order to achieve the desired goals. As trendsetter in the healthcare provision industry, the courtyards at Pasadena strives to maintain the highest standard of care to help its residents get back into the community or create a healthy long term living environment. In its vision, people choose the courtyards at Pasadena because this organization believes that people are their choice. Conclusion In conclusion, long term care in the United States is increasing striving to improve their services and provide their patients and their families superior quality care. The Houston based Courtyards at Pasadena facility is one of the best long term care organizations in the region offering a wide range of excellent long term care services ranging from rehabilitation programs, pulmonary programs, and recovery care services and wound management programs. Despite a few challenges, the high standard care services are the facility’s high quality patient care programs is particularly designed to provide a healthy long term living environment for the patients or to enable the residents to effectively get back into the community. References Gurwitz, J. H., Field, T. S., Judge, J., Rochon, P., Harrold, L. R., Cadoret, C., & Bates, D. W. (2013). The incidence of adverse drug events in two large academic long-term care facilities. The American journal of medicine, 118(3), 251-258. Harris-Kojetin L, Sengupta M, Park-Lee, E, Valverde, R. (2013). Long-term care services in the United States: 2013 overview: National health care statistics reports. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. Retrieved on May 09, 2015 from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nsltcp/long_term_care_services_2013.pdf McGeer, A., Campbell, B., Emori, T. G., Hierholzer, W. J., Jackson, M. M., Nicolle, L. E. & Wang, E. E. L. (2012). Definitions of infection for surveillance in long-term care facilities. American journal of infection control, 19(1), 1-7. The Courtyards at Pasadena (2014). Official website: A consumers guide to Pasadena, California Nursing Homes & Rehab Facilities; CA. Accessed on 7th May, 2015 from http://courtyardsatpasadena.com/facility.html Read More