Tag: Skilled Rehab

Accelerating Wound Healing & Restoring Mobility

Accelerating Wound Healing & Restoring Mobility

A 64-year-old long-term care resident was referred to therapy following an exacerbation of chronic heart failure that left her significantly weakened and with a marked decline in functional mobility. She lost her ability to independently propel her wheelchair and was also battling a non-healing, full-thickness pressure wound at the base of her spine, despite more than a month of standard wound care. To get her back on track, her care team turned to OmniVersa and OmniCycle.

Therapy Protocol

Speech Therapy

  • 3-5x/week x 12 weeks

OmniVersa® Ultrasound/Electrotherapy System

  • Subthermal ultrasound over the wound bed to increase local circulation and facilitate wound healing

OmniCycle® Elite Therapeutic Exercise System

  • Upper and lower extremity cycling for improved strength and endurance  

Additional Interventions

  • Therapeutic exercise, self-care management, and wheelchair mobility training

OmniVersa® Ultrasound/Electrotherapy System

OmniVersa®

Ultrasound/Electrotherapy System

OmniCycle® Elite Therapeutic Exercise System

OmniCycle®

Elite Therapeutic Exercise System

Accelerating Wound Healing & Restoring Mobility

This patient was pleased with her progress in therapy. Since the wound has healed, she has regained independence with mobility and self-care. She is looking forward to relocating to Florida to be near her sister. 

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With unmatched reliability, maximum treatment efficacy, and built-in safety features, you can trust ACP’s technologies to help your therapy team deliver the best possible patient outcomes.

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A 64-year-old long-term care resident was referred to therapy following an exacerbation of chronic heart failure that left her significantly weakened and with a marked decline in functional mobility. She lost her ability to independently propel her wheelchair and was also battling a non-healing, full-thickness pressure wound at the base of her spine, despite more than a month of standard wound care. To get her back on track, her care team turned to OmniVersa and OmniCycle.

Driving Patient Engagement & Motivation in Rehabilitation

Driving Patient Engagement & Motivation in Rehabilitation 

For rehab clinicians, patient engagement is a common challenge that directly impacts outcomes. When patients participate actively and consistently in their therapy, they make measurable progress. When they don’t, their recovery can stall, or even halt.

While we can measure engagement through attendance and compliance, motivation, which drives engagement, is more difficult to define or influence. For many patients, traditional therapy approaches and repetitive activity fail to sustain their interest. This is where strategies that go beyond simply “showing up” have superior clinical value and outcomes.

Defining Patient Engagement 

True engagement in rehab includes: 

  • Active participation in therapy activities 
  • Emotional and cognitive involvement 
  • Consistency over time 
  • Willingness to exert effort 

A patient who shows up but performs only the minimum isn’t truly engaged with their therapy. Engagement is driven by the patient’s motivation, mood, and the value they see in the activity itself. When clinicians can identify what makes therapy meaningful or enjoyable, not just tolerable, patient engagement improves. That, in turn, supports better clinical outcomes. 

What Motivates Patients? 

ACP recently surveyed clinicians who incorporated the OmniTour™ Virtual Exercise Experience into their therapy programs. Their feedback shows that their patients aren’t just participating more; they’re showing up for therapy sessions with greater motivation and satisfaction:

  • 84% of clinicians rated OmniTour as very or extremely effective at increasing patient engagement in therapy.
  • 92% rated its impact on outcomes as extremely or very effective.
  • The top two most impactful OmniTour benefits affecting patient engagement were patient motivation and satisfaction.

Rather than seeing therapy as a chore, many patients in facilities using OmniTour looked forward to the virtual cycling sessions. They trained not just because it was prescribed, but because the experience made exercising feel fun and exciting.

One surveyed clinician shared this: 

Our residents love the OmniTour. They enjoy looking at all the fun places to visit.

Motivation as a Clinical Strategy 

Motivational tools like the OmniTour can’t replace skilled clinical intervention, but they can enhance it. Motivation supports existing clinical goals by: 

  • Increasing effort and consistency in therapy sessions 
  • Encouraging patients to remain engaged over longer periods 
  • Supporting mood improvements that can improve performance and adherence  
  • Providing clinicians with an additional tool to address barriers to participation 

When motivation is embedded in the therapy experience, clinicians can focus less on coaxing attendance and participation and more on advancing functional goals.

Practical Implications for Rehab Teams 

Motivation isn’t a “nice-to-have” in rehabilitation—it’s a clinical advantage. When motivation becomes part of the therapy experience, patients are more likely to participate actively, push themselves further, and remain consistent. 

By incorporating tools designed to support engagement, rehab teams can address one of the most persistent barriers to progress: sustaining meaningful participation over time. 

Bring OmniTour to Your Facility

Discover how OmniTour can support your therapy programs and support stronger patient outcomes.

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For rehab clinicians, patient engagement is a common challenge that directly impacts outcomes. When patients participate actively and consistently in their therapy, they make measurable progress. When they don’t, their recovery can stall, or even halt. While we can measure engagement through attendance and compliance, motivation, which drives engagement, is more difficult to define or influence.

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OmniFlow® in Action: Restoring Speech, Confidence, and Connection

OmniFlow® in Action: Restoring Speech, Confidence, and Connection 

After undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, a 78-year-old gentleman faced a difficult recovery that impacted his voice and speech. Multiple falls left him vulnerable, and his most recent fall resulted in a head injury that required hospitalization and a referral to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation. 

The patient expressed concerns that his voice and speech had changed after his fall, which was negatively impacting his ability to engage socially. Due to these concerns, he was evaluated by speech-language pathologists and referred to speech therapy.  

Therapy Protocol

Speech Therapy

  • 3x/week x 4 weeks

OmniFlow® Breathing Therapy Biofeedback System 

  • Controlled inspiratory lung volume – Diamond Mine
  • Forced expiratory lung volume – Prehistoric Contest

Patient Education 

  • Good vocal hygiene to improve vocal quality

OmniFlow®Breathing Therapy Biofeedback System

OmniFlow®

Breathing Therapy Biofeedback System

OmniFlow® in Action: Restoring Speech, Confidence, and Connection 

The patient and his significant other were happy that through therapy, he was able to regain his confidence and clarity of speech. The patient was able to engage in social activities he had avoided, such as talking on the phone, speaking around others at the rehab gym, and conversing with unfamiliar people.  

I found having the graphics and game-like aspect vs. numbers on a screen very useful and positive. I feel it was challenging to me and helped my lungs expand to help with my voice.

Patient

Bring the OmniFlow® Breathing Therapy Biofeedback System to your Facility

Make speech therapy more interactive, engaging, and confidence-building for your patients with the support of virtual reality.

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After a serious heart surgery and multiple falls, this 78-year-old patient found himself struggling not only with physical recovery but also with changes to his voice and speech that made social interactions difficult. In our latest blog post, we share how his care team used OmniFlow to help him regain his voice and confidence.

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Navigating CMS Changes: What Providers Need to Know for 2026

Navigating CMS Changes: What Providers Need to Know for 2026 

The healthcare landscape is shifting again, and providers in post-acute and outpatient therapy settings need to think ahead. We recently hosted a webinar with industry expert Ellen Strunk, President at Rehab Resources & Consulting. She broke down the latest updates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that will impact care delivery and reimbursement in 2026. 

Here are four essential takeaways: 

1. Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Is Getting More Complex

CMS is refining how skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are evaluated under the VBP program. Performance in 2025 will directly affect payments in fiscal year 2027. Key measures like discharge function scores, fall rates, and discharge-to-community rates are more important than ever. Plus, CMS is introducing a two-step appeal process for VBP results, giving providers more room to challenge decisions.

2. Health Equity Adjustment Is Being Removed

The Health Equity Adjustment (HEA) was adopted in 2024 and aimed to reward top-performing facilities serving higher proportions of residents with dual eligibility status. However, CMS found it had minimal impact on payment outcomes (less than 0.1%) and is now proposing to remove it for simplicity. This means providers will need to focus on core performance metrics without expecting equity-based bonuses.

3. New Payment Models Are on the Horizon

Two major models are in play: 

  • Ambulatory Specialty Care Model: Targets outpatient treatment for chronic heart failure and low back pain. It’s still in the proposal stage but could reshape outpatient therapy payments. This model aims to reduce avoidable hospitalizations and unnecessary procedures, improve patient experience and outcomes, and lower cost to Medicare.
  • TEAMS Model: Launching January 2026 and tracked for 5 performance years through December 31, 2030, this episodic care model covers five surgical conditions and tracks outcomes for 30 days post-discharge. SNFs with strong quality ratings may benefit from waived hospital stay requirements and closer hospital partnerships. This will enhance patient experience from surgery through recovery by supporting the coordination and transition of care between providers; promoting a successful recovery that can reduce avoidable hospital readmissions and emergency department visits.

4. Inpatient Only (IPO) List Is Being Phased Out

CMS is proposing to eliminate the inpatient only list over a three-year transition period, starting in 2026 with musculoskeletal services. Additional proposed removals from the IPO list include cardiovascular, lymphatic, digestive, gynecological, and endovascular procedures. This shift means more procedures could be done in outpatient settings, creating new opportunities—and challenges—for rehab providers to support faster recovery and transition planning.

Preparing for What’s Next

These changes reflect CMS’s push toward streamlined care, better outcomes, and stricter spending. Facilities should start preparing now to adapt their operations, track performance, and explore new partnerships. 

Your Partner in Better Patient Outcomes

ACP provides the clinical programs, services, and technologies needed to thrive in today’s healthcare environment. Discover how our solutions can support your facility.

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The healthcare landscape is shifting again, and providers in post-acute and outpatient therapy settings need to think ahead. We recently hosted a webinar with industry expert Ellen Strunk, President at Rehab Resources & Consulting. She broke down the latest updates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that will impact care delivery and reimbursement in 2026. Keep reading for her key takeaways.

Reducing Fall Risk with Virtual Reality Exercise

Reducing Fall Risk with Virtual Reality Exercise 

This 71-year-old woman experienced nine falls in one week and a urinary tract infection (UTI) that resulted in a five-day hospitalization. Following her hospital stay, she required increased assistance with all functional tasks. Before this hospitalization, she lived with her grandchildren and was able to independently walk, navigate stairs, and complete all functional activities, including meal preparation.  

To restore her functional abilities, she was referred to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation services. 

Therapy Protocol

Physical & Occupational Therapy

  • 5x/week x 2 weeks

OmniVR® Virtual Rehabilitation System 

  • Transfer training using Bingo virtual reality (VR) exercise 
  • Balance and gait using City Walk VR exercise 

Additional Interventions 

  • Gait training, balance training, and therapeutic exercise 

OmniVR® Virtual Rehabilitation System 

OmniVR®

Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System

After only two weeks of physical and occupational therapy, this patient was able to sit-to-stand independently, stand longer, walk and use stairs, and significantly reduce her fall risk. 

Reducing Fall Risk with Virtual Reality Exercise 

This patient was very happy she progressed so quickly with therapy and that she was able to return home with her family’s support. Her therapists feel the OmniVR really helped improve her ability to get up from the chair and walk. 

I really like competing with the other patients on Bingo!

Patient

Bring OmniVR to Your Facility

Make therapy more fun, engaging, and motivational for your patients with the power of virtual reality.

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This 71-year-old patient experienced nine falls within a week and a urinary tract infection that resulted in a five-day hospitalization. Following her hospital stay, she required increased assistance with all functional tasks. Before this hospitalization, she lived with her grandchildren and could independently walk, navigate stairs, and complete all functional activities, including meal preparation. To restore her functional abilities, she was referred to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation services. Learn how her care team used virtual reality exercise to regain her mobility.

One Dementia Patient’s Journey to Healing with Shortwave Diathermy

One Dementia Patient’s Journey to Healing with Shortwave Diathermy 

Harpreet Singh, PT, DPT, MSHA, was met with a complex case while working at a skilled nursing facility (SNF) in Sacramento, California. One of his patients, an 80-year-old woman living with advanced Alzheimer’s disease, struggled with a stubborn stage III pressure ulcer for months. Despite diligent wound care, the ulcer showed minimal improvement. Through innovation and compassionate interdisciplinary care, he was able to resolve this case with the help of ACP’s OmniSWD® Shortwave Diathermy System. 

Before Treatment with OmniSWD 

This patient’s Alzheimer’s disease left her largely non-verbal, unable to express pain clearly, and entirely reliant on staff for all aspects of daily life. For Dr. Singh, this posed a tricky question as her PT: How could he help this patient heal when her disease so greatly limited her communication, cognition, and mobility? He decided it was time for a new approach. 

Augmenting Physical Therapy with Pulsed Shortwave Diathermy  

Dr. Singh decided to try combining pulsed shortwave diathermy (PSWD) with traditional physical therapy treatment interventions. Over four weeks, he delivered PSWD to the patient’s sacral ulcer using OmniSWD. 

Treatment Protocol

The patient’s clothing in the wound area and the dry dressing were removed. She was positioned side-lying on a mat table where OmniSWD was used to apply PSWD at a sub-thermal dose. The following protocol was followed: 

  • Carrier frequency: 27.12 MHz
  • Pulse frequency: 400 pulses/second 
  • Pulse duration: 65 µs 
  • Duty cycle: 4%  
  • Duration: 30 minutes 
  • Frequency: 4x/week x 4 weeks  
  • Average power: 3.9 watts/session  

After each PSWD treatment session, the wound nurse applied triad paste and a new dry dressing as prescribed by the patient’s wound care physician. 

OmniSWD®

Shortwave Diathermy System

Additional Interventions

In addition to PSWD, Dr. Singh incorporated a balanced treatment regimen of therapeutic exercises, balance training, posture education, and pressure relief into her treatment plan. To ensure consistent care throughout the day, he relied on interdisciplinary collaboration with the nursing and dietary teams.  

Patient Outcome

After four weeks of highly focused treatment, the patient’s outcome exceeded expectations. Her wound had fully closed, and her pain, as measured by the PAINAD scale, dropped to zero. Her sitting balance improved significantly, nearly doubling on objective assessment. Most importantly, she could sit upright again, interact comfortably, and engage with her environment. 

On this experience, Dr. Singh had this to share:  

This case reminded me that even in a resource-constrained setting like a SNF, thoughtful application of clinical tools supported by an interdisciplinary team can restore both function and dignity. Although PSWD isn’t yet commonplace for pressure ulcer management in long-term care, this experience has shown me its potential, especially for patients with cognitive impairments who can’t voice discomfort or pain.

Ultimately, this patient’s care team wasn’t just able to heal her wound. They were able to restore her comfort, dignity, and presence while finding new purpose in creative problem-solving.  

Dr. Singh’s full report is available in The American Journal of Medical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Research.

Ease Pain & Accelerate Recovery with OmniSWD

Empower your therapists to save time and achieve superior patient outcomes with ACP’s advanced OmniSWD Shortwave Diathermy System.

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Harpreet Singh, PT, DPT, MSHA, was met with a complex case while working at a skilled nursing facility (SNF) in Sacramento, California. One of his patients, an 80-year-old woman living with advanced Alzheimer’s disease, struggled with a stubborn stage III pressure ulcer for months. Despite diligent wound care, the ulcer showed minimal improvement. Through innovation and compassionate interdisciplinary care, he was able to resolve this case with the help of ACP’s OmniSWD® Shortwave Diathermy System.

Surge Rehabilitation and Nursing Pioneers ACP Facility Certification

Surge Rehabilitation and Nursing Pioneers ACP Facility Certification 

Last year, we launched the ACP Certified program to help our partners enhance their clinical expertise, improve patient outcomes, and stand apart in their communities. Since then, it has been our pleasure to see rehab and nursing clinicians across the country find value in becoming certified—for themselves and their patients. We are thrilled to share that Surge Rehabilitation and Nursing in Middle Island, NY, has become the first facility in the nation to achieve ACP Certification in both Cardiopulmonary Rehab and Fall Prevention. This remarkable achievement underscores Surge’s commitment to clinical excellence and innovation in post-acute care.

Elevating Cardiopulmonary Care 

To become ACP Certified in Cardiopulmonary Rehab, Surge’s staff demonstrated excellence in specialized therapy interventions and clinical protocols and in integrating advanced technology to support cardiopulmonary recovery and long-term management.

Following extensive training and the implementation of evidence-based practices, Surge reported the following improvements in patient outcomes:

  • 54% of patients required less supplemental oxygen by discharge
  • 84% of patients showed improvement in BORG score from admission to discharge, indicating reduced perceived breathlessness
  • Average increase in ambulation distance from admission to discharge was 93 feet, reflecting endurance and functional mobility gains
  • Average length of stay decreased from 52 days to 37 days, showing increased efficiency and care delivery
  • 93% of patients demonstrated improvement in Timed Up and Go (TUG) scores, indicating better functional mobility

“This certification is a milestone and affirmation of a promise to our residents and families that we deliver the highest level of cardiopulmonary care available today,” said Ahmed Joudah, Administrator of Surge Rehabilitation and Nursing.

Leading the Way in Fall Prevention

Falls are a significant risk for older adults, and Surge is taking a proactive, interdisciplinary approach to reduce risk and optimize clinical outcomes. Since implementing the evidence-based practices outlined in the Fall Prevention certification, the Surge team has achieved notable improvements: 

  • Average increase in ambulation distance of 56 feet from admission to discharge 
  • 81% of patients demonstrated improvement in TUG scores, and 30-second sit-to-stand scores improved by 5 repetitions, showing better functional mobility and reduced fall risk 

In their program reflection, they had this to share:  

“…participating in the ACP Fall Prevention Program has been a transformative journey for [their] interdisciplinary team, enhancing not only [their] clinical outcomes but also [their] communication, collaboration, and shared commitment to resident safety. One of the most critical elements that [they] have embraced is the importance of clear and consistent communication across all disciplines, ensuring that every team member – from therapists to nursing staff to physicians – is aligned on goals, strategies, and individual resident needs.”

Celebrating Clinical Excellence

As an ACP-certified facility, Surge continues to lead by example in clinical excellence, ongoing education, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This dual certification is not just a milestone for Surge but also ACP, and we are grateful for their exemplary partnership and dedication to better patient outcomes. 

It has been an incredible experience to witness the journey of ACP Certification, from its initial concept and development to its successful launch, culminating in the achievement of the first two facility certifications by Surge. The staff and administration at Surge are committed to ensuring the individuals under their care receive the best possible care, using all available resources to maximize clinical outcomes.

Kelly Contreras, Senior Manager, Remote Clinical Services

Become ACP Certified

Ready to level up your clinical expertise? Learn more about how you and your facility can become ACP Certified.

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Since launching the ACP Certified program, it has been our pleasure to see rehab and nursing clinicians nationwide find value in becoming certified. We are thrilled to share that Surge Rehabilitation and Nursing in Middle Island, NY, has become the first facility in the nation to achieve ACP Certification. Read on to learn how their Cardiopulmonary Rehab and Fall Prevention certifications are enhancing patient care.

Addressing Swallow Function with E-Stim and sEMG Biofeedback

Addressing Swallow Function with E-Stim and sEMG Biofeedback

This 83-year-old patient was admitted to a skilled nursing facility following hospitalization for a bilateral hemisphere stroke (affecting both sides of the brain). As a result, he developed opharyngeal dysphagia (difficulty chewing and swallowing). He was placed on a modified diet and referred to speech-language pathology services to improve swallowing ability. Before his stroke, he lived alone, consumed a regular diet, and drank thin liquids. 

Therapy Protocol

Speech Therapy

  • 5x/week x 3 weeks

Omnistim® FX2 Portable PENS 

  • Patterned Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation (PENS) head and neck protocol to improve the effectiveness of swallowing exercises 

Synchrony Dysphagia Solutions by ACP®

  • Effortful swallow exercise using Kangaroo virtual reality representation of muscle output to improve swallowing coordination and effort 

Additional Interventions

  • Patient education for swallowing strategies 

Omnistim® FX2 Portable PENS 

Omnistim® FX2

Portable PENS

Synchrony Dysphagia Solutions by ACP®

Synchrony

Dysphagia Solutions by ACP®

Addressing Swallow Function with E-Stim and sEMG Biofeedback

This patient went home to an assisted living facility and is very happy to have recovered his swallowing capabilities, enabling him to eat the food he loves with no restrictions! His speech-language pathologist credits the Synchrony Dysphagia Solutions System: 

Synchrony is a very effective tool that improved his swallow function.

Therapist

Improve Dysphagia Outcomes

Combining sEMG with a virtual environment, Synchrony engages patients in fun, interactive swallowing and speech exercises that improve motivation and promote better functional outcomes.

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After being hospitalized for a stroke, this patient had trouble chewing and swallowing. As a result, he was placed on a modified diet and referred to speech-language pathology services. Following three weeks of speech therapy, he was able to enjoy a regular diet and return home. Keep reading to find out how his care team did it.