Cliffside Rehabilitation & Residential Care Center

Respiratory/ Ventilator

Quality Care Since 1997

We have been providing quality, specialized care to patients on ventilators since our ventilator care unit was certified by the NYS Department of Health in 1997.

The Department of Health approved expansion of our unit to 38 beds in June, 2001. Care is provided in a dedicated, specialized unit under the direction of a board certified MD-Pulmonologist.

There is a separate step-down unit for those patients who have been weaned but still require specialized care. Each resident’s care is coordinated under the direction of their attending physician and a Board Certified specialist in Pulmonary Medicine.

We have on-site, 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week Respiratory Therapists who are licensed and registered by New York State with over 20 years of experience in treating ventilator dependent patients.

The unit is staffed at all times by a complement of specially trained Registered and Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nurse Aides and Respiratory Therapists with available ancillary staff including Physical, Occupational Speech and Recreational Therapists, Nutritionists, Social Workers, Clinical Psychologists, Pharmacists, Medical Specialists, etc.

Each resident’s care is coordinated under the direction of their attending physician and a Board Certified specialist in Pulmonary Medicine. To assure that each resident’s needs are met; the staffing level on the unit meets or exceeds the recommended staffing by the New York State Department of Health.

Many of our staff have been with us since the unit’s inception.

Treatment Team and State-of-the-Art Therapy and Equipment

The treatment team evaluates a patient on admission (and regularly thereafter), and establishes a comprehensive care plan in conjunction with the family. Included in this is an evaluation for weaning, which indicates whether or not a patient can tolerate a gradual adjustment of the ventilating equipment, progressing to increasing periods off the ventilator with the ultimate goal being that the patient is no longer vent dependent.

A Rehabilitation Therapy suite including portable Physical, Occupational, Speech and Recreational Therapy equipment is available. Prescribed therapies are administered in accord with the Comprehensive Care Plan based on the individual needs and capabilities of the resident.

Recreational Therapy is administered to every resident in accord with his/her capabilities, tolerance and interests. Our Sensory Stimulation program via state-of-the-art Snoezelen Therapy equipment, administered under the Recreational Therapy department, has met with acceptance by residents of all levels of capability. This promotes mental alertness, calm and comfort, and allows the resident to be more oriented to their surroundings.

Our Computer lab effectively addresses cognitive functioning improvement.

Each resident is provided with an electric bed that includes a special mattress to promote skin healing and maintain integrity, an emergency generator to prevent power interruption, individualized air conditioning and heat in each room, and a nurse call and ventilator alarm systems at each bed. Each resident is helped out of bed and seated in specialized recliners as tolerated. Patients are bathed in a special stretcher-equipped tub to supplement daily sponge baths.

Visiting hours are 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Coffee or tea is available for visitors at all times in the pantry on the unit. Arrangements can be made for a courtesy meal to be provided for a visitor.

Courtesy transportation is available for visitors.

We can appreciate that having a loved one on a respirator can be a trying experience. If the hospital is recommending continuing care placement, many of you may find yourselves making decisions and choices that are difficult, to say the least. Look for a specialized ventilator unit, certified by the NYS Department of Health. This assures you the best care, with licensed respiratory therapists, and a maximal number of nursing staff on duty at all times.

Again, we understand that this is a difficult time. Please feel free to contact us to arrange a visit or tour, or to answer any questions that you may have.

We would like to provide you with some information about Cliffside to assist you with this process.

Additional Information..

Weaning Process Step down level/Tracheostomy Long Term Care Respiratory TherapyComprehensive Care PlanningLetters of Appreciation