Frequently Asked Questions

To find out more about the Vanderbilt Rehabilitation experience, view our information packet.

Admission and discharge:

• What should we bring from home?
  We suggest comfortable slacks or sweatpants, blouses or pullover shirts, and sturdy walking shoes. Patients wear regular clothes during the day. Some toilet articles are provided by the center, but you may want to bring favorite brands or personal items. Please bring glasses, dentures, hearing aids, or other assistive devices the patient uses. If any of these items are brought in for the patient after the day of admission, please notify the nursing staff so they can be added to the inventory list.
  More about what to bring for your stay
• What about medications I took previously?
  Please do not bring any medication from home unless you are asked to do so. However, a list of these medications would be helpful.
• Should I bring any spending money?
  Not when you're admitted. If you'll need money for outings, we will give you advance notice.
• How long will I stay at the center?
  Every patient is different and stays a different length of time. If you are making progress, meeting the goals set by your rehabilitation team, then continued stay is beneficial to you. After the first team conference, the team will have an estimate of how long you will continue to benefit from the services the center offers. Your case manager will notify you of your expected discharge date and assist in arranging for any further therapy you will need after you leave the center.
• What happens if I'm unhappy or dissatisfied with some aspect of my program?
  The center has a grievance process for patients and families. If there is a concern you would like to discuss, please contact the program director at 401-845-1600.

Getting ready for home:

• How will I obtain the necessary equipment to use at home?
  Your therapists will determine your equipment needs and will work with your case manager and insurance company to place the order. This is usually done toward the end of your stay. Some types of equipment are not covered by all insurance companies; your case manager will let you know about any limitations in coverage.
• How will I receive follow-up therapy?
  Your rehabilitation team will determine your continuing therapy needs before you are discharged. Your case manager will make the arrangements in consultation with your insurance company and with consideration of the coverage the company will allow.
• How will I know what medications to take after I go home?
  Your nurse will talk to you and your family about the prescribed mediations you will take when you go home. Your doctor will give you the necessary prescriptions on the day of your discharge. If you would like to receive your prescriptions before discharge day, please notify your case manager or nurse.
• How will my referring doctor know what happened during my rehabilitation stay?
  Your rehabilitation doctor will provide your referring physician (and any other doctor you request) with a summary of your treatment and progress.
• How will I get around at home?
  You and your therapists will discuss your home setting. A therapist may visit your home to determine what will be needed but in most cases a home evaluation is not required. Your therapists will give you recommendations based on the description of your home.
• Will anyone contact me after I go home?
  Yes, you will receive an initial follow up call from the case manager within a week of discharge to assess your transition to the community. Approximately three months following discharge you will receive a call from an agency that the Vanderbilt Rehabilitation Center contracts with to gather information from our former patients. This national agency will contact you to gather information on your status and your rehab stay. We use the information gathered from these contacts to assess our program, compare ourselves to other rehab centers across the country and make improvement where opportunities exist. Your feedback is extremely important to the success of our program.

More questions? We're happy to answer any questions you may have; please contact us at 401-845-1600.