Patient Care Services
Kindred Hospitals use a multidisciplinary team approach to care that helps our patients return to the highest quality of life possible. Our areas of patient care services include:
Advanced Nutrition
When illness or surgery adversely affects a patient’s stomach or digestive system, we administer medication and nutrition through a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) or a PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) until the patient recovers.
Day Surgery
Our Day Surgery Unit offers a convenient, efficient alternative for patients who require elective surgery and is staffed by caring professionals who understand the unique needs of our patients.
Diagnostic Imaging
Skilled and certified technicians operate our imaging equipment, and we make every effort to perform the testing in as prompt and as convenient a manner as possible.
Dialysis
Our interdisciplinary team of dialysis specialists includes physicians, nurses, technicians and dietitians who strive to help you meet the challenges of dialysis with comfort and dignity, and continue to live a full, active life.
Direct Admission
For your convenience, our hospital accepts direct admissions from an Acute Care Hospital, Extended Care Facility or Skilled Nursing Center. Call (954) 764-8900, extension 5136 to arrange for a patient evaluation and admission.
Endoscopy
An endoscope is a flexible, lighted tube that, when inserted into the digestive system, transmits images of the inside of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum, allowing the physician to carefully examine the lining of these organs. Our endoscopy team works to make you as comfortable as possible before, during and after the procedure.
Geriatric Services
Our interdisciplinary team of geriatric specialists includes physicians, rehabilitation therapists, dietitians and mental-health professionals. Their objective is to help our senior patients live life to its fullest.
Rehabilitation
The rehabilitation process is designed to help strengthen and restore a patient’s ability to live and work as normally as possible after a disabling injury or illness. Contact us for detailed rehab program information.
Physicians
Your physician is responsible for your clinical treatment while you are here as a patient. He or she will make the necessary arrangements for laboratory tests, medication, diets and other special treatment.\
The medical staff consists of multidisciplinary physicians prepared to meet your needs. All physicians are board-eligible and/or board-certified in their specialty and licensed by the state of Florida.
Nursing
We are the people with whom your patient/your loved one will spend the most time. We recognize that each of our patients is an individual with special needs. We want to know about their hopes, concerns, past experiences with their illness and any religious or cultural practices so we can better meet their needs. We are involved in all aspects of physical care. We give input to the doctors and other healthcare team members on the progress of our patients and also ensure their recommendations are carried out.
We also promptly report any changes in the patient's condition. We believe that patient families are an important part of our healthcare team, and the love, emotional support and encouragement families give plays a big role in a patient’s recovery
Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory therapists are a unique group of healthcare professionals who work in cooperation with doctors, nurses and other ancillary services. Our main goal is to return the respiratory patient to the highest possible level of functioning.
As respiratory therapists, we are primarily responsible for the management of the ventilator, airway care, the administration of breathing treatments and weaning from the ventilator. In addition to our regular duties, a respiratory therapist is available to transport patients to various activities and to provide assistance to the nursing staff.
Radiology
Our radiology department provides around-the-clock coverage. On-call technicians are registered and are no more than 30 minutes away from the hospital.
The radiology department is responsible for assisting the physicians’ diagnoses through the performance of diagnostic radiographs. Some studies ordered by the physician will be scheduled at other facilities.
Services provided include, but are not limited to:
- Portable studies
- Fluoroscopic exams
- Non-invasive exams
- Invasive exams
- CT scans-mobile
- Ultrasound
- Video swallows
- Surgical Services
Our hospital features an operating room suite, consisting of one operating room and a post-anesthesia recovery area. These areas are equipped and supplied to provide a wide range of services including the following specialties:
- Bariatric surgery
- General surgery
- Plastic surgery
- Gastrointestinal
- Genitourinary
- Pain management
- Otolaryngology
- Gynecology
- Orthopedics
- Thoracic-vascular surgery
Laboratory
Operating under the direction of a physician, the laboratory is responsible for conducting any tests that are ordered. Our advanced equipment performs tests accurately and quickly, with results available on the same day whenever possible.
Pharmacy
The pharmacy department is responsible for the purchasing, storage, preparation and distribution of medications and related supplies, as well as the evaluation of drug therapies, monitoring patient care and providing drug information.
The pharmacy staff consists of full-time pharmacists specializing in clinical and administrative practice and full-time technicians certified in medication preparation.
Food Services and Nutrition Support
The registered dietitian performs clinical nutrition services. The goal of nutritional support is to improve the patient’s nutritional condition and to facilitate the patient’s potential for weaning from ventilatory support and improved health. The dietitian tailors the feeding modality – from feeding tubes to oral diets – to match the needs of the patient and participates in discussions and the method and progression of feeding.
Rehabilitation Services
Rehabilitation services includes speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy and are provided to:
- Combat the effects of long physical illness
- Return patients to a high functional level
- Accelerate the healing process
- Reduce the length of the hospital stay
We also offer a Restorative Care Program for those patients not yet able to meet criteria for skilled rehabilitation services.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy (PT) is provided at Kindred Hospital – Fort Lauderdale to improve and restore our patients to a high activity level. In order to meet this goal, PT may provide one or more of the following activities:
- Therapeutic exercises, to help increase range of motion and strength
- Bed mobilities, to help improve moving in bed
- Transfer training, to help a patient get in and out of bed, a chair or the car
- Gait training, to help a patient walk again
- Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy (OT) is the evaluation and treatment of patients to perform daily life tasks and activities. Our patients can often regain their life roles by doing one small task at a time. The occupational therapist addresses hand and arm strength and coordination to help restore functions needed for dining, grooming, bathing, dressing and toileting.
Sometimes special devices may be provided to make these tasks easier. The occupational therapist may provide hand and arm splints for positioning or to preserve function.
Speech Therapy
The speech therapist and dietitian work closely together to provide complete nutrition in a form that is safe for your family member and determine the appropriate consistency of the diet. In addition, the speech therapist assesses your family member’s ability to communicate, swallow food safely and assists with communication to your loved one.
In addition, your family member may need to learn special positioning and swallowing techniques to eat safely before a meal is ordered. Your loved one may be receiving nutrition intravenously through a tube into the stomach, or by eating. There may also be a time when a combination of these are used.
Social Services/Case Management
This department stays actively involved throughout the patient’s stay to provide emotional support, transportation information, assistance with access to community resources and in coordinating discharge planning. The goal of social services/case management is to assist the patient and family in meeting psychosocial needs from admission through discharge.
Chaplain Services
There are chaplains on standby to assist you and your family with any needs or concerns. Your minister is also welcome to visit at any time.
Ethics Committee
Several support services are provided to help you and your loved ones deal with the stress of hospitalization. The hospital has an active Ethics Committee should you have questions or concerns regarding living wills or other advance directives. Psychologists and psychiatrists are on staff to offer services your physician may assign as part of the treatment plan.