St. Johnsbury Health and Rehabilitation Center

St. Johnsbury Health and Rehabilitation Center is a medium-sized, for-profit nursing facility with a capacity of 110 beds, situated in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont. The center serves a dual role, offering both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care for its residents. The facility is not part of a continuing care retirement community, but it does participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs, accommodating residents who require assistance with funding their care through these channels.

In terms of care, St. Johnsbury Health and Rehabilitation Center provides an environment designed to support individuals recovering after hospital stays or those needing ongoing daily assistance. For short-term rehabilitation, the center offers services targeted toward patients who are recuperating from events such as strokes, heart attacks, infections, or accidental injuries. Key metrics indicate that 41.7% of residents are able to return home following a stay intended for rehabilitation purposes. Residents typically experience 3 hours and 49 minutes of nurse staffing per day, a figure consistent across both weekdays and weekends. Notably, the facility has a track record where 2.1% of rehabilitation residents suffered a major injury from falls, 6.6% faced serious infections that led to hospitalization, and 18.7% required emergency room visits during their short-term stays.

For those requiring long-term care, the center aims to maintain residents’ abilities to perform daily activities, such as eating, moving, and using the bathroom independently; 75.4% of the residents were reported to retain these self-care abilities. The commitment to resident well-being is reflected in a high flu vaccination rate, with 97.8% of the population receiving their annual influenza shots. There is an emphasis on having a licensed nurse present on every shift, and the nursing staff provides a consistent level of care throughout the week.

St. Johnsbury Health and Rehabilitation Center has also undergone routine health, fire, and safety inspections, resulting in identified areas for improvement over recent years. These inspections have examined the center’s performance in areas such as creating and implementing individualized care plans within appropriate time frames, preventing accidents and hazards in the facility, ensuring resident safety and protection against all forms of abuse, and providing timely communications regarding transfers or discharges. Additional focuses include adequate management of urinary care, administration of medications under a licensed pharmacist’s oversight, provision of behavioral health services, and meeting residents’ nutritional needs.

The facility received attention for specific incidents in which policies and practices were scrutinized, particularly regarding the establishment of safe, homelike environments, sufficient nurse staffing, clear documentation and care plan development, and maintaining channels for residents to voice grievances. Fines have been imposed over the past three years, highlighting areas that required further attention from the management and care staff.

Overall, St. Johnsbury Health and Rehabilitation Center serves an important role in the regional healthcare continuum, with services encompassing rehabilitation after acute illness or injury, as well as comprehensive long-term support. The center continually adapts to regulatory oversight and strives to provide an environment that prioritizes resident well-being, safety, and the ability to regain or maintain independence as much as possible within the care setting.