About Specialty Hospital

St. Francis Specialty Hospital began in 1995. It is a hospital within a hospital, housed In St. Francis Medical Center on Jackson Street in downtown Monroe, Louisiana. St. Francis Specialty Hospital has been accredited by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Hospital Organization since inception.

Specialty Hospital focuses on challenging patients who require long periods of care and rehabilitation. Four comprehensive programs are available to treat patients medical needs:

Medically Complex Program - for patients with multiple illnesses or chronic conditions in acute stages.

Pulmonary/Ventilator Program - for patients with pulmonary (breathing) difficulties, including those who require a ventilator or have a new tracheotomy.

Complex Rehabilitation Program - for patients needing extensive inpatient rehabilitation from strokes, traumatic brain injury, amputations and other medical problems that impair daily activities.

Wound Care - designed for patients with wounds that require intensive inpatient care.

These programs also incorporate the following features:

* Board-certified medical directors for each program
* 24-hour care by RNs and qualified nursing staff
* High staff to patient ratio - each nurse cares for only 4 to 5 patients
* Isolation room equipped with negative airflow devices
* 24-hour pharmacy service
* 24-hour registered respiratory therapy coverage
* Interdisciplinary treatment team consists of:

Physician
Nurse
Dietitian
Pharmacist
Occupational therapist
Respiratory therapist
Physical therapist
Speech therapist
Recreational therapist
Case manager/social worker
Chaplain
Clinical support techs
Administrative support techs
Radiation techs

* Prosthetic/orthotic services
* Wound/skin management
* Continence management
* Patient/family education

A patient may be referred to St. Francis Specialty Hospital by his/her physician.