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Convalescent unit opens at Saskatoon's City Hospital

Saskatoon's City Hospital officially opened its new convalescent unit this morning.

It's unique in the health region — a place for 28 medically stable patients who need more recovery time before leaving hospital. It began taking patients almost a month ago.

Carol Butt, 65, was the second patient to be admitted there.

"I had an incredibly bad summer, starting with a torn Achilles tendon and a broken leg," Butt recounted.

Time to rebuild strength

Butt was admitted to RUH on June 19. Surgery and then several weeks in intensive care followed.

She was home for the month of July, and then admitted to St. Paul's Hospital with an infection. She lost a lot of weight. Her physiotherapy team recommended a stay in the new convalescent unit.

She could receive the care she needed, while taking needed time to rebuild her strength and acquire the skills needed to regain her independence.

She spent a little over three weeks there.

"What a treat when I was given the tour," Butt said. "The spacious rooms, the panoramic view of the city from the dining room windows. The staff's availability and promptness in responding to our needs was a great comfort."

She added that she felt staff were concerned with both her emotional and physical well-being.

Butt was attended to by a team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers and several therapists — ranging from physical to occupational and recreational to speech therapists. They discussed plans with her for her return home, including equipment aids, transportation and home care. They even talked about how she would continue to pursue her hobbies and involvement in the community.

After her discharge, staff followed up with her to "make sure that everything was still on track," Butt said.

"I think it was the best of what you would like in the given situation."

More efficient care

A physiotherapy room is set up right in the unit, saving patients from having to go to the rehab areas. Patients are encouraged to be up and dressed in their own clothes. Meals are served, when possible, in a communal dining room.

The health region's vice-president of integrated health services, Corey Miller, said the unit allows for convalescent care to be provided more efficiently.

The 28 beds are additions to the health region's total bed count.

With less nursing care and more emphasis on therapy "it is a lower cost model [than other hospital beds] but it's also more effective for the patients that are at that cycle of their care," Miller said. However, he was unable to say how much lower the cost is than the average of $355 per day for a medical bed.

Could cut readmissions

The goal is to help patients who might otherwise end up in long-term care become well enough to go home. It should also cut down on the number of hospital readmissions.

Beefed up home care services in the last couple of years also help, Miller said.

"People want to age at home. They don't want to move into long-term care facilities," he said.

In the future, the region may also build more convalescent care into its long-term care homes, so that some may become well enough to go home again, he said.