Mercy Rehabilitation Services - South

Acute Inpatient Rehab in St. Louis

Mercy Rehabilitation Services - South offers premier inpatient rehabilitation services in a dedicated 49-bed acute rehabilitation unit that is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). CARF evaluates programs for multidisciplinary, comprehensive rehabilitative care and excellent outcomes. Since 2005, the acute rehabilitation unit has been awarded “exemplary status” by CARF for its innovative rehabilitation services.

Acute Inpatient Rehab Criteria

Our acute rehabilitation center in St. Louis has board-certified rehabilitation specialists and is designed to assist patients who have recovered from the acute phase of an illness or injury but still need 24-hour physician management and nursing care in addition to rehabilitation services. Patients who may benefit from acute inpatient rehab services include the following:

Additionally, our acute rehab unit accepts bariatric patients or patients requiring telemetry on a case-by-case basis as well as patients who require peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis. Patients with other disabling injuries or illnesses will be evaluated for admission to the inpatient rehabilitation unit to determine if the patient meets rehab admission criteria. We are unable to accept patients under 18 years of age.

Why Acute Rehab vs Skilled Nursing Facility?

For patients recovering from injuries requiring daily therapy, acute rehab offers a higher level of care than a skilled nursing facility. Benefits of Mercy's inpatient acute rehabilitation include:

Acute Stroke Rehab Program

Our CARF-accredited ARU stroke program at Mercy Hospital South delivers a comprehensive program of medical, nursing and therapy care to successfully address the individual needs of each stroke patient. All patients are psychologically and medically stable but have sufficient medical acuity to warrant an ongoing hospital stay. Our goal-directed approach to stroke rehabilitation tailors treatment to help patients:

• Restore physical function and enhance the skills needed to perform daily activities
• Build strength, improve balance and regain mobility
• Improve speech and swallowing
• Develop new cognitive and behavioral strategies to compensate for any deficits

As a rehabilitation patient at Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis, you will receive a minimum of three hours of therapy per day, no less than five days a week, per week. Your therapy program, including the frequency, intensity and length of stay, will be designed according to your needs after you have been fully evaluated. Therapy service hours are normally provided on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with some weekend therapy provided based on your plan of care.

The team will work with you and your family to help determine the best discharge environment for you based on your needs at the time of discharge. The goal is to return home from the hospital. If you are unable to return home, the team will assist you and your family in making other arrangements.

St. Louis Rehab Support Groups

The Stroke Support Group meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. One meeting is for guest speakers, the other meeting is when survivors and caregivers split up. The group also meets on the first Friday of the month for breakfast and socializing. There are also special events such as a spring picnic and an annual holiday party. 

Amputee Support Group meets four times a year:  the second Monday of the month (Jan, April, July and October) at Mercy Hospital South. All other meetings are held at O’Charley’s Restaurant at Lindbergh and Hwy 55. All meeting dates are subject to change.

For more information about Stroke Support Group or Amputee Support Group email Geri Tyrey or call (314) 525-4561.