A Long-Term Acute Care Hospital

St. Francis Specialty Hospital began in 1994.  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 1995.

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

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

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.

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 (Rehabilitation Program:  4-7 other: 1-4)
• 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
  and support groups

A patient may be referred to St. Francis Specialty Hospital by their physician.