Healthcare Professionals
Accreditation
The National Rehabilitation Hospital is proud to have been awarded a maximum Three-Year Accreditation by CARF (Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). This accreditation extends to June 2011, when the hospital will be surveyed again by CARF. (link to CARF accreditation & quality framework)
Choosing a career at NRH
The National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) provides an outstanding professional environment which offers career advancement, continuing education and research opportunities, as well as the opportunity to gain the unique knowledge, experience and expertise associated with choosing a career with NRH as provider of complex specialised medical rehabilitation services for the national population.
A career at NRH provides many benefits, some of which include:
- Active and dynamic working environment
- Interdisciplinary, team approach to care
- Partnerships with other healthcare professionals and agencies
- Diverse case mix
- Varied levels of care (inpatient, outpatient, day rehabilitation, outreach)
- Varied patient population (e.g. Brain Injury (including Stroke), Spinal Cord Injury, Prosthetic & Limb Absence and Pediatric Parogrammes
- Advances in technology systems
- Professional Development and Continuing Education is encouraged
Quick Facts about NRH
- Since opening in 1961 as the national provider of specialist medical rehabilitation services, NRH has provided rehabilitation treatment and care to over 35,000 inpatients from throughout Ireland During this time, we have reviewed in excess of 250,000 persons in our outpatient services.
- Currently there are 110 beds available for inpatient admissions to NRH:
- 47 beds for patients with Acquired Brain Injury, including Stroke
- 38 inpatient beds dedicated to those with Spinal Injury
- 17 beds for Amputee / Limb Absence
- 8 beds for Paediatrics
- On average, we have a total of 150 patients (all age categories) on the waiting list for inpatient rehabilitation within the following diagnostic categories:
- Brain Injury Programme (including Stroke)
- Spinal Cord System of Care
- Prosthetic, Orthotic and Limb Absence Rehabilitation (POLAR)
- Other Neurological conditions
- The average regional HSE % distribution of our inpatient admissions is:
- 33% HSE Dublin Mid Leinster
- 24% HSE West
- 24% HSE South
- 19% HSE Dublin North East
- The average length of inpatient stay per programme is:
- Brain Injury Programme total – 57 days
- Stroke – 91 days
- Spinal Cord System of Care – 111 days
- Prosthetic, Orthotic and Limb Absence Rehabilitation (POLAR) – 49 days
- In 2009, the inpatient admission discharge destination was:
- Discharged Home 80%
- Back to Acute Hospital for non-medical reasons – 10%
- To residential /nursing care – 10%
- 90% of our inpatient admissions come from the acute hospital network and 10% from primary care services.
- On average, approximately 18-20% of inpatients in the NRH are admitted a result of a Road Traffic Accident (RTA). The vast majority of these are male.
- Only about 10% will ever return to work.
- Those with severe injuries will remain dependent on others for all aspects of their day to day activities for the rest of their lives.
- The average stay of RTA patients is 3 months – high spinal injuries may stay up to one year.
- Patients treated as a result of RTAs attend both our inpatient service and our outpatient clinics – many will have a life-long relationship with the hospital).
- For every fatality on our roads, 8 people are seriously injured.
- On average, approximately 50% of the Children admitted to the NRH have been injured as a result of a Road Traffic Accident.
- All of these children continue to attend NRH for review periods and Summer Programmes for the Children & family members/carers until they reach adulthood. Traumatic injuries can have numerous consequences both physical and psychological and can have a devastating impact on the person and the extended family.
