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The COVID Recovery Rehabilitation at UM Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Institute provides intensive support in an inpatient setting for people recovering from COVID-19.

These patients face a number of challenges, including:

  • Lung and breathing issues
  • Nutritional deficits, swallowing and cognitive issues
  • Overall weakness and limitations in activities of daily living

The 28-bed specialized rehabilitation nursing care is in operation 24 hours a day, and therapies are provided from 7 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday.

Our team of experts include specialists in:

  • Neurology
  • Psychiatry
  • Respiratory therapy
  • Case management/social work
  • Occupational therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Speech-language pathology

Patients receive therapy in a spacious therapy gym equipped with advanced technological equipment in our kitchen and training bathroom for activities of daily living and in their hospital room.

Planning for Discharge

Discharge planning begins at admission. The entire team will work with the patient and their caregiver to help determine the best discharge environment.

Our team assesses the patient’s status to identify goals and potential barriers to discharge.

The family is included in planning to help prepare for a safe discharge that includes education about discharge needs and community resources.

Our entire team will work with you and your caregivers to help determine the best discharge environment.

For Referring Physicians

All patients must be:

  • Previously COVID positive but have been symptom free for at least 72 hours
  • Have tested COVID negative twice with at least 24 hours between tests
  • Meet criteria for either acute rehabilitation or chronic level of care
  • Are psychologically and medically stable, but have sufficient medical acuity to warrant regular inpatient physician oversight
  • Patient must have stable vital signs for 24 hours prior to admission
  • Age of at least 16 years; if under 18 than at least 50 kg
  • Pain control adequate to tolerate 2-3 hours of rehabilitation therapies per day
  • Medically stable (e.g., no unexplained fevers, chest pain, pressure or tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, cardiac arrhythmias, or unstable lab values)
  • Cognitive and psychiatric condition permits participation in a rehabilitation program, with the ability to learn and retain new information
  • Patient and family/caregivers must be amenable to discharge planning
  • Discharge plan back to the community after rehabilitation is considered appropriate
  • Have deficits in one or more of the following areas:
    • Mobility
    • Activities of daily living
    • Health maintenance

Acute Rehabilitation Level of Care

  • 24-hour physician availability
  • 24-hour availability of a registered nurse
  • Minimum of three (3) hours of therapy daily (physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy)
  • Patients with rehabilitation potential (ability to make significant functional improvement, defined by measurable and realistic goals, within a reasonable period of time), requiring specialized rehabilitation therapy, and multidisciplinary care.

Chronic Rehabilitation Level of Care

  • Requires physician contact at a minimum of 3 times per week, more frequently as the condition requires
  • 24-hour availability by a registered nurse
  • Two – three therapy contacts daily
  • Patients with rehabilitation potential (ability to make significant functional improvement, defined by measurable and realistic goals, within a reasonable period of time), requiring specialized rehabilitation therapy, and multidisciplinary care.

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