County Supervisors have voted to close the nationally renowned facility by July if more funding is not brought in to the health system.
WHO NEEDS RANCHO?
*L.A. County residents with spinal cord, brain or other trauma injuries, conditions resulting from stroke, cerebral palsy, severe arthritis, and diabetes, as well as babies with birth defects, amputees and many other rehabilitive conditions.
*All health insurance plans have coverage limits for rehabilitation costs. Once that threshold is reached even those of us fortunate enough to carry an insurance card, are left vulnerable. Rancho treats all patients, regardless of ability to pay.
TRADITION OF MEDICAL EXCELLENCE
*Established in 1888, Rancho has provided physical and occupational thearpy since the 1920's and rehabilitive care since the 1950's.
*The only regional rehabilition center that specializes in pediatric care.
*Rancho's Levels of Cognitive Function testing is regarded as an essential tool in assessing brain injuries for treatment.
*One of the few centers that can treat our county's aging post-polio population.
*One of the only rehabilitative facilities in Southern California that is effective in weaning ventilator-dependent paraplegics off of breathing assistance - a key to becoming more self-sufficient.
*A leader in encompassing entire families in the rehbilitative provess that leads to more effective long-term success.
*U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Rancho in the top ten of Rehabilitation Hospitals in the Nation. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/nycu/health/hosptl/rankings/specrepreha.htm
*Rancho is the only federally designated Regional Spinal Cord Injury Care System in Southern California.
REHAB SAVES MONEY
*A recent survey conducted by the Health Insurance Association of America found a savings of $11 for every $1 spent on rehabilitation.
*Still more studies, according to the American Thearpeutic Recreation Association (ATRA), have indicated that quality comprehensive rehabilitation services, such as Rancho's, reduce long-term hospitalization and nursing home stays for stroke patients and thus save the American economy $17,000 per year, per patient.
*Rehabilitative care is more cost efficient over the long run. Comprehensive rehabilitation restores a patient's ability to live independently and avoid costly long-term nursing home care and acute hospital stays.
*If Rancho closes and all of its inpatients were forced into long-term nursing homes, the cost would exceed $132 million per year**. Closing Rancho will reduce county expenses by only $58.6 million per year. (**average nursing facility at $3,150 per month X 3,500 patients, www.canhr.org)
QUALITY STAFFING AND SERVICES
With 207 beds (licensed for 395) and a 1,400 person health staff, Rancho provides essential rehabilitation services to more than 3,500 critically injured patients and handles over 65,000 patient visits annually.
Rancho provides L.A. County residents recovering from trauma injuries, strokes, disease, and other debilitating conditions with services through their following Centers of Excellence:
*Spinal Cord Injury
*Stroke
*Adult Brain Injury
*Neurologic Disorders
*Pediatrics Program
*Alzheimer's Disease Research Center of California
*Rancho Adult Day Services
*Gerontology Program
*Arthritis and Rheumatology
*Pathokinesiology Laboratory
*Diabetes/Limb Preservation and Amputation
*Post-Polio Program
*Pressure Ulcer management
*Liver Disease
*Environment Health Program
*Dentistry for People with Disablities
*Center for Applied Rehabilitation Technology (CART)
*Seating Center
*Burn Reconstructive Services
*Driver Training
*Vocational Services
Funding comprehensive rehabilitation services has been proven a cost-effective investment in human potential.