Mount Vernon Health Care Center

After breaking my patella (knee cap) in 2 places, I had surgery and went to Mt Vernon Healthcare for rehab. Do not confuse this with Mt Vernon Hospital as I did! This place takes sub-acute patients (unable to sustain 3 hrs of PT). Mt. Vernon Hospital/Rehab only takes acute patients. The good: The nurses and CNAs for the most part were extremely helpful, and compassionate. Because of the limited staff and emergencies, they were spread thin. The shining star nurse was MohamedAli. He juggled many things during his shifts, always with efficiency, a kind word and a big smile. The cleaning staff did an ok job of cleaning and emptying trash. The bad: it's in dire need of renovations! It is worn and shabby. The call button and controls for the bed were constantly falling on the floor from the bed as there was no place to put them. Fortunately, my friend was able to jerryrig a cord to the bed-stand and I was able to retrieve them from the floor by using his cord as a fishing pole. It was impossible to cut the light off or on above the bed as you couldn't reach the cord behind the bed. My friend pinned a clothes pin to the light chain and attached to the sheet. The closet door against the wall next to the bed only opened from left to right making it impossible for me to get my clothes. The doors could have been easily been reversed for easy access but I had friends helping me. The food was disgusting! My family brought in food and I kept fruit and yogurt in a cooler. The ugly re PT 1: modern PT room within the building. Staff pleasant. During my stay, I had a one week check up with surgeon. I was taken out of one brace and put in a high end ($650) and told never remove this brace. I asked if PT would know this and dr. replied "if they don't know, they shouldn't be physical therapists." According to my script, only PT could unlock the brace to move my knee gradually. The PT removed the brace and clueless as to how to put it back on. When I left with her, it fell down my leg and knee no longer straight. When my friend arrived, he couldn't believe what happened. He talked immediately to her supervisor to no avail. This happened the day before I was leaving and fortunately I had inhomec PT the next day and he fixed it which took a half hour. The ugly No. 2 problem with PT: I was told a PT session was ordered for the weekend but that never happened so a weekend wasted. The ugly No 3 problem with PT: A PT came in my room at night and said the front desk said he should stop by and check on me. I never got out of bed and he spent a few minutes and left. When I mentioned this the next day, I was told that was a PT session, thus charged!!The uglier re prescriptions: I was sent home with two controlled substance prescriptions. The pharmacy said they could not fill a copy of a prescription for a controlled substance. Friend goes back to Mt Vernon and they found a doctor who wrote out these prescriptions. Back to pharmacy. This was not acceptable because his DEA ID did not match his name. I was unable to get these drugs and in horrendous pain that evening. Next day friend returned and talked to Administrator who found a doctor who knew how to write prescriptions and stamped with her DEA ID. BOTTOM LINE: The 2 stars are for the dedicated nurses and CNA's. For the rest of this place and staff a big "0". This is long winded, but I took the time to write it, in the event it spares one of your family members or friends from selecting this facility.