HOSPITAL/CLINIC UPDATE: Kentfield Rehabilitation & Specialty Hospital

Curtis Roebken, MD

Note: Each issue of Marin Medicine includes a self-reported update from one local hospital or clinic, on a rotating basis.

Kentfield Rehabilitation & Specialty Hospital is excited to announce the completion of the first phase of its renovation begun last summer. On April 15, a new lobby, a conference room and an admissions office were opened, along with newly remodeled patient rooms. Patients needing assisted ventilation, dialysis treatment for life-threatening infections and skilled services for serious brain injuries are now being supported with new technologies.

The new environment is QUIET! Few overhead pages are necessary, but communication via Ascom handsets is ongoing. These handsets not only act as phones, but also connect to the nurse call system and all other patient monitoring devices. With this system, patients can communicate directly with their nurse, therapist or physician. Equally important, caregivers can communicate with all other members of the care team, from nurses to pharmacists. The efficiency and quietness of the environment can only contribute to the well-being of the patients.

All systems supporting patient care--including Oxinet monitors, computer systems and the soon-to-be-implemented telemetry system--have been updated with new cable wiring. The goal after completion of the physical plant remodel is to implement fully electronic medical records.

Kentfield Hospital, under the direction of CEO Ann Gors and the ownership of Vibra Healthcare, realizes the importance of long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) in the care continuum. As the Affordable Care Act begins implementation across the nation, the need for cooperation and coordination between varying levels of care is essential. Hospitals, home care agencies, skilled nursing facilities, physician groups and health plans must all partner in the provision of care. As we celebrate the renovations at Kentfield Hospital, we embrace the opportunity to improve patient care.

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Dr. Roebken, a Kentfield internist, is chief of staff at Kentfield Hospital.

Website: www.kentfieldrehab.com