Centers Health Care’s Kenny Rozenberg is reinventing skilled nursing and rehabilitation
When most people think about nursing homes, decades-old barbells, day-old coffee, dark bedrooms, wheel chairs in formation around a single common TV comes to mind. Well, think again.
Kenneth (Kenny) Rozenberg, CEO of Centers Health Care — the largest post-acute health care continuum in the Northeast — is reimagining and redefining the experience of short-term rehab and the nature of long term-care.
On the forefront of technology, Rozenberg has introduced the Jintronix biofeedback rehab system into many of his facilities — there are 49 in all, spread across five states. The system can accommodate non-weight bearing patients, so it can be used safely on the first day of rehab. And faster starts lead to faster recoveries and discharges. It uses computer gaming technology and multiple motion sensors to make therapy more fun and more effective. Patients may feel like they’re shooting hoops or skiing the slopes, but they’re actually getting some of the most effective therapy treatment available.
Another innovation is Rozenberg’s partnership with Call9 — one of the most advanced telemedicine companies in the country. With Call9, Centers Health Care has implemented in several facilities cutting-edge emergency service technology, making it possible to diagnose and treat residents in place, avoiding unnecessary trips to emergency rooms and subsequent hospitalizations.
Centers staff nurses are trained as Clinical Care Specialists — highly-skilled first responders — who can consult with a physician at a resident’s bedside and provide them with comprehensive care without leaving the comfort of their own rooms. Call9’s dedicated, expert doctors, contacted via video conferencing, can direct the Clinical Care Specialists to administer an EKG, telemetry, ultrasound and bedside labs with results delivered directly to the doctor’s computer screen. Appropriate treatment is prescribed and administered immediately. The result is speedier recoveries and potentially quicker discharges.
At the same time, while Rozenberg recognizes the importance of utilizing cutting-edge technology, under his leadership, Centers Health Care takes a holistic approach to both short- and long-term care. Nutritious meals, activities to stimulate both body and mind, and an ongoing connection to the community are all integral aspects of the life experience at a Centers Health Care facility.
Check your preconceptions at the door. At Centers Health Care, Kenny Rozenberg is putting a whole new spin on skilled nursing and rehabilitation.
