Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)

Joint-Commission-Seal-National-Quality

Program Features

The Willis Knighton Inpatient Rehabilitation Program is a 31 bed facility centrally located in Shreveport, Louisiana, at I-20 and Line Avenue. The current facility (1111 Line Ave.) opened in 2017 and features beautiful interior decor creating a warm, healing environment. Highlighted additions include a theater, patient dining room and recreational activities area.

Intensive Hospital Level of Rehabilitation

We are licensed and certified as an acute rehabilitation unit, which means we provide an intensive hospital level of rehabilitation as opposed to that provided in skilled nursing facilities or long term acute hospitals. Nursing service areas are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The rehab physicians are on call 24 hours per day for medical management. Inpatient therapy services are available daily between 7:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on weekends as indicated by patient need. Therapy attendance is typically twice a day (with the exception of speech, which may be once a day) for a minimum of 3 hours of intense therapy services a day. 

Referrals

Referral for admission to the Rehabilitation Institute may be made by the individual’s physician, insurance source, discharge planner / case manager or care giver. Referrals can be initiated by calling the Post-Acute Care Management Department at 318-716-4770.

Experienced Medical Management

The program offers a high caliber of clinical staff and consulting physicians to manage the often serious and complex medical needs of the more than 500 patients admitted from around the region each year. Our Medical Director, Katharine Balbuena, MD, is a board certified rehabilitation specialist with 23+ years of experience who coordinates the rehabilitation plan of care for each patient.

Comprehensive System of Health Care

Willis Knighton Health is the largest not-for-profit health system in Louisiana and includes five hospitals, Progressive Care CenterExtended Care CenterThe Oaks of Louisiana retirement community, Health and Wellness CentersQuick Care Centers, an extensive network of physician specialty clinics and a full range of support services.

Expert Staff

Our skilled rehabilitation specialists provide customized therapies and function as part of a coordinated interdisciplinary team. Each team has a physician, nurse practitioner, physical, occupational and speech therapist, case manager, social worker, rehabilitation nurse, registered dietitian and technologists. Many of our nurses have the added credential of “CRRN” Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse. Specialty physicians are available by consultation. Our staff to patient ratio for both therapy and nursing is 1 to 5 or 6 patients, which allows for very personal and patient driven care.

Family/Support System Involvement

WK Rehabilitation offers a family oriented program with no restricted visitation unless medically indicated. Limited overnight accommodations are available for the primary care giver in the patient’s private room. Patients and families/support systems are requested to inform our staff of any cultural needs or preferences (dietary, spiritual or other) upon admission so that the team can customize your care and treatment. We encourage family/support system participation in both decision making and individualized training so they are comfortable and prepared to assume the additional responsibilities of caring for their loved one after discharge. The Rehabilitation Institute also provides referrals to support groups (many are facilitated by our staff and held on our campuses) and extensive community resources to aid in this transition.

Insurance Coverage

The program is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most major health plans. We also accept workers’ compensation, fee for service and out of pocket payers. Insurance coverage is verified and approval obtained prior to admission so that patients know of any out of pocket expenses in advance. Insurance updates are provided and continued authorization obtained throughout the stay.  Our post-acute case managers will make recommendations for alternative levels of care if admission is declined by the patient, family or insurance. Additional fees may apply such as guest trays and other incidental charges.

Excellent Discharge Resources

One major advantage that Willis Knighton Health offers our patients is full continuum of post-acute services depending on your level of need and function. Those resources include the Extended Care Center, the Progressive Care Center and the Health Center at Live Oak for skilled nursing services or less intensive rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation services at one of several outpatient locations, home health or hospice care.

Performance and Outcomes

We are committed to continual performance improvement and excellence in providing rehabilitation services and monitor our patient outcomes against a national and regional data base each quarter. Patient satisfaction is also routinely monitored with comment cards offered for input throughout the unit as well as through online options and surveys following discharge to determine the quality of our patients’ experience while in our program.

Accreditation Sets Us Apart

The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for Inpatient Rehabilitation Programs – Hospital (Adults), Inpatient Rehabilitation Programs – Hospital: Stroke Specialty Program (Adults) and for Interdisciplinary Outpatient Medical Rehabilitation Programs. CARF accreditation represents the highest honor awarded to a rehabilitation program and Willis Knighton is the only CARF accredited medical rehabilitation program north of the I-10 corridor in Louisiana. The Willis Knighton Rehabilitation Institute is also accredited by The Joint Commission, which indicates we meet or exceed national performance standards and have received their seal of approval.

Families/support systems and referral sources are encouraged to 
tour our facility or call for more information at 
318716-4770 or toll-free at 888-277-3422. 
You may also send a fax to 318-716-4791