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N
EEDS
A
SSESSMENT
As the only provider of dedicated rehabilitation services
in Westchester County, Burke continually implements
and expands existing programs after identifying needs.
The following reports, documents, and activities played
a role in shaping the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital's
community needs assessment:
· Regular weekly administrative staff planning
meetings.
· Reports from community groups, and from
local, state and federal government agencies.
· News articles and features in both the
local and regional press.
· Requests from patients, families and
community members.
· Hospital and industry-generated statistical
reports.
· Information from the Department of Health
and the Health Systems Agency.
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S
TRATEGIC
P
LANS
Specific goals identified in the strategic plan included
patient room and corridor renovation; broadening the
availability of electricity; and the opening of an
outpatient physical therapy satellite.
· Fifteen patient rooms were renovated in 2003.
Renovation of patient rooms and corridors continue in
2004. A new neurology research laboratory is
scheduled for completion in 2004.
· Plans for a Co-Generation Plant" to produce our own
electricity during peak hours were completed in 2003;
the plant is expected to be built by late 2004.
· A need for outpatient physical therapy in the Bronx,
the northernmost county in New York City, was
identified through the needs assessment phase. Bronx
County has 1.32 million residents; 70.1% are
minorities. Patients do not have private transportation,
and the area's Para-Transit system does not cross over
into Westchester County. A satellite outpatient clinic
was opened in 2003 in the Bronx to meet the physical
therapy needs of that community. Two other satellites,
·
opened in past years are located on Westchester
Avenue in White Plains and in Purchase near major
corporations.
· The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital addressed a lack of
meeting space in central Westchester for not-for-profit
health-based organizations through the continued
offering of conference and meeting room space to
groups including the Amputee Support Group;
Arthritis Foundation; Alzheimer's Association
(Hudson Valley/Rockland/Westchester Chapter);
Medical Advisory Committee of the Westchester
County Department of Health; Northern Metropolitan
Hospital Association; Osteoporosis Awareness Group;
Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group; Well Spouse
Support Group; Voices of Community Action and
Leadership; and the Westchester County
Intergenerational Public Advocacy Education and
Information Program.
· Burke offers the only community aquatics program in
Westchester for patients who no longer require skilled
therapy, but wish to continue with a community based
pool exercise program. The hospital expanded hours
in the therapeutic pool at the request of the outpatient
population.
· The Adult Fitness Center, opened in 2001, is a
medically-based fitness facility for older adults and
people who have completed outpatient physical
therapy. Due to increasing demands, it expanded to a
seven-day week in 2003.
· Requests from patients and families regarding
religious and dietary observances resulted in a
Passover seder held in a meeting room; a patient and
family staying in the dormitory on their Sabbath; and
Kosher meals. The Hospital has several brochures and
pamphlets in Spanish, and offers the ATT Language
Line on each nursing unit.
· The Home Health Aide Program, started in 1984,
continues to fill a growing need for qualified and
reliable health aides for the elderly and infirm. The
program provides affordable training to people who
are economically disadvantaged, undereducated or
displaced. Since its creation in 1984, the program has
trained more than 2,000 individuals. In 2003, 90
people were trained.
