Clinical Departments

Patient Care Services and Nursing

With a staff which includes registered nurses and certified nursing assistants, Leeway offers a high standard of care, geared toward the particular needs of each resident, many of whom have daunting co-morbidities.

Wound Care

Because of the nature of HIV, it can be difficult to heal open wounds or ulcers once they appear. Leeway’s staff includes a wound care specialist who conducts a basic assessment of skin so that the medical team can effectively treat any issues. Full-body skin checks are an integral part of care plan at Leeway and are continued on a regular basis for all residents. Risk assessments are done at regular intervals and any time a change in condition warrants (e.g., acute episodes requiring hospitalization, a period of immobility no matter how brief, a change in medication with new onset of side effects, etc.). Once the appropriate medical regimen has been determined and instituted, nursing measures enable us to provide symptomatic relief for our residents with skin concerns.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

The Physical Therapist is an important member of the multi-disciplinary team at Leeway.

Leeway’s Physical Therapy intervention encompasses three major categories of activities:

Management of Pain

We all slow down when we experience pain. The primary focus of pain management and physical therapy at Leeway is its effect on function. Physical Therapists at Leeway custom-tailor a plan for each resident that helps each individual maintain as high a level of function as possible; common activities include: relaxation techniques, massage, and activities that work to maintain joint mobility/flexibility.

Maintenance of Strength and Endurance

Residents at Leeway take part in a physical therapy assessment and then an individualized exercise program is designed for each resident. Activities range from passive range of motion and stretching to progressive resistance exercises. Leeway’s Physical Therapists encourage residents to participate in physical activities appropriate for each individual’s level of tolerance. These activities include progressive resistance therapeutic exercise through the use of cuff weights, dumbbells, and resistance bands to increase or maintain strength and endurance. The ultimate goal is to maximize independence with daily function and activities of daily living.

Independence in Self-Care

Every day we wake, shower, dress, prepare breakfast, and move on with our day. Add a chronic illness to that morning routine and techniques to conserve energy and achieve the maximum amount of care with the least amount of effort becomes a priority. The Physical Therapists at Leeway work with each resident to teach these techniques as well as help residents learn to utilize assistive devices.

At Leeway, we help our residents work toward independence and self-care plays a significant role in achieving that independence. Our Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department strives to keep up-to-date with the latest technologies and assistive equipment that is available. Many of these items are obtained through the generosity of our donors. To support continued expansion of our rehabilitation program, click here.

Psychiatry

Myriad statistics show that psychiatric disorders can lead to increased risk of HIV, as well as worsen the prognosis of an infected individual. The priority of care in the Leeway program is crisis stabilization and safety with a focus on improvement of the level of functioning for each resident.

Leeway’s medical team includes a Psychiatrist and a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Psychiatric Mental Health who address psychiatric disorders found in HIV/AIDS such as depression, dementia, alcohol, drug, or other substance-related disorders. Psychiatric treatment at Leeway focuses on the mental wellbeing of our residents and works to understand the life history, responses to external conditions, interpersonal and cultural context of existing mental disorders so that the care plan for each resident will effectively work toward management of the often dual diagnosis of substance-related and psychiatric disorders.