The Ventilator
Dependent Care Unit at the Schulman and Schachne Institute for Nursing and Rehabilitation:

A First in Brooklyn

The first of its kind in Brooklyn, the Schulman and Schachne Institute's 28-bed ventilator unit caters to residents who must be on ventilators in order to breathe, in addition to other acute medical problems. The unit is designed both for those who show potential for weaning from mechanical ventilation and for those who are unlikely to be weaned but could benefit from a wide range of therapies to improve their quality of life.  Residents have ongoing access to a variety of physicians, including pulmonary specialists, on-site respiratory and rehabilitation therapists and the top-notch resources of Brookdale's Respiratory Therapy Department.  Those patients who are ultimately weaned or become sufficiently mobile can take advantage of our Home Healthcare Agency for support, as they make plans to return home.

Restorative Respiratory Therapy

Our goal in therapy is to wean residents from ventilation, if not completely, at least for longer and longer periods of time. To that end, residents are taught to do exercises that strengthen chest muscles which, in turn, may enable them to use oxygen more efficiently.

Rehabilitative Therapy The purpose of rehabilitative therapies is to make residents more independent in the tasks of daily living, so that they can do more for themselves at the Schulman and Schachne Institute and, later, at home. Our rehabilitation therapy program consists of physical, occupational, recreation and speech therapies.

Other Specialty Services Because the Schulman and Schachne Institute is physically connected to Brookdale by a bridge, all medical specialties from cardiology to radiology are readily available without having to leave the building.

Who is Eligible? The Schulman and Schachne Institute admits residents to the Ventilator-Dependent Care Unit who require subacute, ventilator-dependent care management, weaning from ventilator use, and for intermediate and long-term ventilator-dependent care.  Residents can be referred by the hospital or by an outside physician.  Self-referrals are also accepted.  For information about eligibility and admission, call (718) 240-6903.