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Intensive Therapy Experience - A Pilot Program

This program focuses on the caregiver as well as the patient.

Nature’s Edge Therapy Center is introducing a pilot program that will provide intensive skilled speech and occupational therapy to patients, with integrated support to their caregivers.
 
The goal of the Intensive Therapy Experience (ITE) is not only to help patients identify and reach their therapy goals, but also to provide caregivers hands-on involvement with the therapy strategies.  The program will enable and encourage caregivers to carry over the treatment strategies learned at Nature’s Edge so that the patient’s return to his/her home environment will be seamless, with continuous caregiver intervention.  The ITE program focuses on the caregiver as well as the patient.
 
Unlike traditional therapy programs, ITE will offer specialized, intense treatment for up to two patients and their caregivers at a time, for a period of one week.  The program is day treatment focused.  It will run from Monday to Friday and provide 40 hours of therapeutic intervention at Nature’s Edge.  Participants will stay off campus and arrange for their own lodging, breakfast and evening meals, and will also be responsible for their own transportation to and from the center.
 
On the first day of the program (Monday), patients will be given detailed and in-depth evaluations by our licensed occupational and speech therapists, and individualized treatment plans will be formulated.  In the days to follow, each patient will have two private treatment sessions per day with the licensed therapists.  In addition, there will be multiple therapeutic groups designed to continue to implement the treatment plans developed by the therapists, including Caregiver Education and Training, Music Therapy, Art Therapy, Therapeutic (Horse) Riding and Social Outing/Dining Group.  A specialized daily Meal Planning, Preparation and Dining Therapy Session will generalize and apply the practical treatment strategies learned in the private treatment sessions to a common and socially appropriate activity.  Every activity is structured to enable the patient to succeed and to foster continued growth and improvement with his or her therapy goals.  Here is a sample schedule.
 
The staff for the ITE program includes our speech therapist, Becky Lundeen, and our occupational therapist, Heidi Jo Sovacool, who are both licensed and credentialed in many areas.  Together they will be directing ITE and supervising additional specially trained staff who will provide many other opportunities during the week to our patients and their caregivers.
 
Here is some helpful information to consider:

  • Patients seeking to enter the program must be at least two years of age or older.  There is no maximum age.
  • We welcome any treatment diagnosis at Nature’s Edge; however our areas of specialty are Autism, Brain Injury and Cerebral Palsy.
  • Because this is a medical intervention, a doctor’s prescription for occupational and speech therapy must be provided.
  • Each patient will receive individual private and group therapy sessions.
  • Three scheduled daily breaks provide “down time” for the patient and family to spend private time together.
  • The program will be directed by two state-licensed therapists (speech and occupational).  They will participate in and oversee every element of ITE.  Other staff at Nature’s Edge is specially trained in specific areas of support and intervention.
  • Nature’s Edge is located on 56 acres of beautiful Wisconsin farmland with rolling hills, a trout stream, an indoor and outdoor riding arena, barn, play equipment structures and other amenities.
  • Rice Lake, WI, is two hours from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport and is a small, friendly community with plenty of shopping, dining and lodging amenities.
  • Currently on Nature’s Edge premises are 38 animals, as well as horticulture areas, that will be utilized to augment further progress towards the patients’ goals.

 
The fee for service for ITE (a five-day, 8 am to 4 pm intensive therapy experience) is $6,500.  Lunches are included in this fee.  Patients are responsible for lodging, breakfast, dinner, transportation and Social Outing/Dining Group Treatments costs.  A deposit of 50% of the fee is due at the time of registration, with the remainder due on the first day of the program.  Should there be insurance that may cover the cost, Nature’s Edge staff will be happy to assist you with completing a claim or prior authorization.
 
Therapy rates (which may be covered by insurance) are as follows:
 
$236 for Speech Therapist Evaluation
$215 for Occupational Therapist Evaluation
$132 per Speech Therapy Session ($1,056 for the week)
$120 per Occupational Therapy Session ($960 for the week)
 
If you are interested in this exciting new program, please contact us by phone (715 859 6670) or email.