Dr. Katherine O’Brien completed her undergraduate training at Indiana University and received her M.D. from Georgetown University. She then completed Internal Medicine internship and residency at Georgetown University Hospital as well as Geriatric Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowships at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. She is board certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Clinical Focus: Dr. O’Brien is the lead physician for the Northwestern Home Care Medicine Central region practice. She is also an Associate Hospice Medical Director and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University School of Medicine. She believes in active listening, personalized patient centered care, and above all communication with patients, families and other members of the care team. Her clinical interests include home care, dementia, frailty, complex chronic medical illness, transitions of care, and advanced care planning and end of life care.
Academic Focus: Dr. O’Brien joined the faculty at Northwestern University School of Medicine in 2018. She is actively involved in aging research at the University. She is a core faculty member for both the Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Medicine fellowships at Northwestern University and is involved in education of medical students, residents, and fellows.
Short-Term Rehabilitation
at The Selfhelp Home
CMS 5-Star Rated Medicare-Licensed Facility
The Selfhelp Home Health & Rehabilitation Center offers a boutique rehabilitation experience with the highest quality of care. Here, clients can recover and regain strength and mobility after surgery or illness.
- State-of-the-art therapy gym
- All private suites with private bathrooms
- In-room accommodations for an overnight guest
- In-room dining option
- Complimentary WIFI
- Rooftop deck, beauty salon, movie theater and weekly live musical concerts
- Selfhelp maintains a kosher kitchen but is not under supervision (Glatt Kosher meals available upon request)
- Dedicated speech therapy room to address issues of speech, language, and swallowing disorders
- Simulated kitchen and bathroom for re-training of everyday activities.
- NuStep recumbent bike that ergonomically provides a total body workout
- SciFit Step One recumbent stepper to help build strength and endurance by providing simultaneous upper and lower body motion to work all the major muscle groups
- Electrical stimulation system used to stimulate muscles, alleviate pain, treat wounds and use with other therapy procedures
- Electrical stimulation & ultrasound treatments, a combination electrical stimulation & ultrasound to stimulate muscles, alleviate pain, treat wounds and use with other therapy procedures
- Thermal modalities and hydrocollator heating & cooling units used to reduce inflammation
- Hydrotherapy in a whirlpool spa for pain management and wound care
- Motorized parallel bars, free weights, stairs and other top-of-the-line equipment
- On-site medical equipment including a bladder scanner, ultrasounds, EKG, x-ray and bedside PIC line insertion
We are proud to work alongside highly skilled physicians who are affiliated with Chicago’s most respected hospitals including Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Weiss Memorial Hospital, AMITA Health Saint Joseph Hospital Chicago and AMITA Health Saint Francis Hospital Evanston, Northshore University Hospital and Swedish Covenant Hospital.
During your rehabilitation stay at The Selfhelp Home, you have the right to choose which physician oversees your care. You will continue to see your specialist(s) on an outpatient basis.
Co-Medical Director
Co-Medical Director
Dr. Grendon is currently the Chief of Geriatric Medicine & Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at St. Joseph Hospital. He has a private practice called the Commonwealth Medical Physician Group in Chicago.
Cardiac Care Director
Dr. Joel Okner is a Fellowship trained Cardiologist and Chief Medical Officer of TeleMedico Physicians. He is certified by the American Board of Cardiovascular Disease and a Diplomate with the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Okner is a graduate of the University of Glasgow and completed Residency at Rush-Presbyterian in Chicago, IL where he served as Chief Resident. After over 20 years of providing Cardiac care, including 10 years in private practice, Dr. Okner identified a significant need for Specialty Care in Senior Communities. Dr. Okner is a disruptor and an innovator in Transitional Cardiology. When he is not rounding in communities, he enjoys spending time with his family and is on the board of numerous non for profits.
Wound Care Specialist
Dr. Coraglio works alongside our full-time wound-care certified nurse team to provide weekly bedside wound care for patients with chronic and acute wounds from varying etiologies, including vascular, diabetic, neoplastic, inflammatory and traumatic. Dr. Coraglio performs procedural debridement, skin biopsies, and incision and drainage. Dr. Coraglio is a Chicago native and completed the wound care fellowship program, is board-certified with the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM), and was the 2020 annual conference speaker for “Infectious Disease and Control in Wound Care.”
Attending Physician
Born and raised in Chicago, Dr. Mizuno is a board certified internist who received his M.D. degree from the University of Illinois then completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in 1992 where he remained on staff and faculty at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine until 2019. He remains on staff at Weiss Memorial Hospital, Illinois Masonic Medical Center and St. Mary’s Medical Center. Amongst his proudest and meaningful experiences is medical disaster relief volunteer work performed in the immediate post Katrina relief efforts in New Orleans, in the immediate post earthquake period in Haiti and most recently in Puerto Rico in the immediate Hurricane Maria period. He is very proud to join the widely renowned post acute medical staff at The Self Help Home.
Attending Physician
Dr. Vexelman is Board Certified in Geriatric Medicine and Internal Medicine. He studied Medicine at the Chernovickiy Medicinskiy Institute in Ukraine and did his residency at the Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati in 1997. Dr. Vexelman is based out of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and has privileges with Swedish Covenant (part of NorthShore) and AMITA Saint Joseph Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Vexelman specializes in wound care, speaks English, Russian and Ukrainian and has over 25 years of experience.
Vivek Gupta, MD
Attending Physician
Dr. Gupta specializes in internal medicine and is privileged at Weiss Memorial Hospital, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Thorek Memorial Hospital, AMITA Health, Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center.
Martin Szanto, MD
Attending Physician
Dr. Szanto is an independent practitioner Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Szanto received his medical degree at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine and has been a practicing physician for over 40 years
Mark Vexelman, MD
Attending Physician
Dr. Vexelman is Board Certified in Geriatric Medicine and Internal Medicine. He studied Medicine at the Chernovickiy Medicinskiy Institute, Ukraine. He completed his residency at the Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati, Ohio and a Fellowship at The University of Chicago Hospitals – Pritzker School of Medicine. He speaks English, French and Russian. Dr. Vexelman is a wound care specialist.
Specialized rehabilitation programs to support your recovery
During a hospital stay, ask for rehab at The Selfhelp Home. You’ll receive a customized, comprehensive therapy program that addresses your specific needs for recovery. Therapy is delivered by our expert team of dedicated medical professionals who truly care about helping you reach your goals. We’ve partnered with Renewal Rehab, a trusted nationwide leader in rehabilitation services. Let’s work together to achieve your unique therapy goals.
While recovering from join replacement surgery, fractures, injuries or joint surgery, we offer intensive Orthopedic Therapy that uses the latest equipment and modalities. With therapy up to 7 days a week, you will gain strength and mobility while building up physical endurance. Our highly skilled team of therapists will work at your pace to reach your personal goals. We’ve been entrusted by some of the finest orthopedic surgeons in the Chicago area and with work with your doctor on a customized therapy recovery program.
- On-site physiatrist to oversee your therapy program
- Therapy 7 days a week
The Heart Health Rehabilitation program at the Selfhelp Home is a post-acute short-term medically supervised program designed to improve your cardiovascular health after a cardiac event, a planned surgery or just to manage an ongoing heart or pulmonary diagnosis.
By participating in a cardiac rehab program, you lower the risk of death and health complications after a cardiac event or procedure and boost your chance of returning to an active lifestyle. It also reduces the chances of returning to the hospital.
Our Heart Health Rehab program has 3 equally important parts:
1. Exercise
A one- on -one coach to get your heart pumping with structured exercises in our therapy gym, get your entire cardiovascular system working. Not only does it improve your mood, it reduces risk factors and symptoms.
Rehabilitation Therapy
- Physical Therapy: Lower body strengthening, gait and balance training
- Occupational therapy: “ADL” (activities of daily living) re-training, endurance training, upper body strengthening.
- Speech Therapy: Swallowing, cognitive/memory therapy
2. Monitoring
- On-site Cardiologist during your stay. We work as a team with your own doctors to coordinate your care.
- Daily Weights &
- Weekly and STAT labs
- On- site EKG, Xray, Ultrasound, Dopplers
3. Education
Education on heart healthy living and skill-building enable patients to make lifestyle changes that enhance heart health.
- Manage risk factors: A key element of the Heart Health Rehabilitation Program is to help you make long lasting lifestyle changes to improve your overall health by identifying and controlling your risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol or smoking.
- Dietician- Understand how your diet is a major factor in maintaining a healthy heart. Work with our dietary team and a registered Dietician to establish a menu that works for you.
- Reducing stress: Stress hurts your heart. This part of cardiac rehab helps you identify and tackle everyday sources of stress. Our on-site social workers can work with you to identify stressors in your life and make referrals for ongoing care and management. Counseling helps patients reduce stress and address psychosocial factors that affect their health.
- Pastoral Care (Spiritual Care)-Taking care of your spiritual and emotional well-being are part of your recovery. As a patient in our short-term unit, we can help you connect to a spiritual leader of your choice. Our social workers and other healthcare staff can help you find meaning and purpose in a safe environment.
Transitional Care Nurse
When it is time to go home, a one point of contact will coach you through the steps and follow up with you once you are home to ensure a smooth transition back home. You will leave The Selfhelp Home with a Self-Check Plan to help you better manage your heart and detect signs that need attention as well as a heart healthy diet and meal plan.
Qualifying Conditions
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Stinting
- Arrhythmia management
- Post MI therastic surgery
- Heart Attack
- COPD
- Valve replacement
- Pacemaker Placement
Joel Okner, MD
Cardiac Care Director
Dr. Joel Okner is a Fellowship trained Cardiologist and Chief Medical Officer of TeleMedico Physicians. He is certified by the American Board of Cardiovascular Disease and a Diplomate with the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Designed to help patients with chronic breathing problems associated with chronic lung disease (COPD), emphysema, pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. We focus on giving you the tools you need to improve your overall quality of life, increase exercise and reduce shortness of breath.
We offer specialty programming and treatment for people with Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological conditions. This program is also available as part of our outpatient therapy.
A results driven program for patients who have suffered a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, an other neurological disorders. By utilizing the latest recovery tools, your treatment is enhanced through ultrasound and E-Stim. Our speech and occupational therapists work to help you regain functionality you may have lost, in addition to offering cognitive retaining and stress and depression management.
Wound Care at Selfhelp
- On -Site Wound Care Physician visits the home once a week
- Full time certified wound care nursing and therapy team
- Bedside Debridement
Education & Prevention
- Provides instruction to patients and their families on proper care
- Coordinates wound care supplies to maintain at home
- Consults on proper nutrition, as needed.
- Follow up telehealth sessions with our wound care physician.
We offer a broad range of therapies and treatments:
- Topical Dressings
- Vacuum-assisted Closure
- Compression Therapy
- Ostomy and Stoma Care
- Surgical wound debridement
- Wound VAC
- Chemical wound debridement
- Diabetic ulcers
- Pressure ulcers
- Arterial and venous ulcers
- Burns
- Infections
- Surgical wounds
- Amputations
- E-Stim
Complex wounds resulting from conditions that compromise circulation:
Diabetes, traumatic injury, surgical breakdown, congestive heart failure, vascular disease, incontinence, obesity, renal failure and others.
Bedside Surgical Debridement:
Our on-site wound care physician offers Bedside Surgical Debridement, considered the “gold standard” of necrotic wound treatments. Debridement is a procedure for treating a wound in the skin. It involves thoroughly cleaning the wound and removing all hyperkeratotic (thickened skin or callus), infected, and nonviable (necrotic or dead) tissue, foreign debris, and residual material from dressings. This includes surgical debridement, enzymatic debridement’s, and autolytic debridement.
Wound Care Team
Wound Care Specialist
Dr. Coraglio works alongside our full-time wound-care certified nurse team to provide weekly bedside wound care for patients with chronic and acute wounds from varying etiologies, including vascular, diabetic, neoplastic, inflammatory and traumatic. Dr. Coraglio performs procedural debridement, skin biopsies, and incision and drainage. Dr. Coraglio is a Chicago native and completed the wound care fellowship program, is board-certified with the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM), and was the 2020 annual conference speaker for “Infectious Disease and Control in Wound Care.”
Wound Care Nurse
Monalisa joined the Selfhelp team 3 years ago as a floor nurse. Her dedication to care and detail led her to become a certified Wound Care Nurse in 2019. Her goal every day is to treat the wounds of the residents and short-term patients and to do wound preventive measures for all our residents. Monalisa grew up in the Philippines and finished her nursing school in Chicago. She is happily married with 2 adorable daughters. During her free time enjoys cooking for friends and spending quality time with her family.
“I love working with this amazing team! The Selfhelp working environment is very warm and supportive. I am always excited to go to work.”
Your treatment plan may include a combination of one or more therapies
Exercises to increase strength, mobility, flexibility and endurance
Therapy regimen based on the activities you need to do in order to return home
Speech language pathologists address swallowing issues, language deficits and or cognitive impairments
- Administration of intravenous medications such as antibiotics
- Ostomy care, training, education and management
- Enteral nutrition (feeding tube) care, training and education
- Parenteral nutrition (intravenous feeding) care, training and education
- Onsite bladder scanner to diagnose common urological conditions, assess urinary retention, prevent unnecessary catheterization and reduce urinary tract infections
A reputation of excellence in short-term rehabilitation
The Selfhelp Home is a 5-star Medicare-licensed facility maintaining the highest possible ratings by CMS and recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the Best Nursing Homes for ten consecutive years including: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, & 2014.
Family Member
Our family cannot thank The Selfhelp Home enough for the support and care they gave our dad.
Our dad suffered a stroke and needed significant rehabilitation after being released from the hospital. From the minute we contacted Sheila Bogen, Selfhelp’s executive director who put us in touch with Elizabeth Sanchez, who heads admissions, the wheels to provide him the care and services he needed were put in motion.
Everything was coordinated without delay and with Efrat Dallal’s assistance, our mom was even able to “hotel” in a lovely “Respite Room” to be near to dad during his stay. His care was truly a team effort. From the nurses, Raclyn, Joy, Aaron and their colleagues; Sofia and her dietary team; all the wonderful and caring CNAs; Paul, Elizabeth and the other skilled physical and occupational therapists; his care was unparalleled. We also very much appreciated Tom’s efforts in coordinating many of the details necessary to ensure smooth transitions. And Erica Edwards, Selfhelp’s social worker, ensured that everything was in place not only while dad was at Selfhelp, but for his safe return home. Each and every team involved in his care was outstanding.
In a time where many facilities are short-staffed, The Selfhelp Home’s teams were always available with caring, skilled, safe and professional support. Our family would recommend them without hesitation for any loved ones that need rehabilitation assistance.
Patient
This place truly cares about their customers! I am 45 years old and from Tennessee. I have dealt with knee issues for years and finally found a doctor in Chicago that could help me.
The only problem was that this doctor had to do surgery and he insisted I had to stay in a skilled nursing facility for 4 weeks after surgery. I visited 3 skilled facilities including this one before my surgery. I found this one to be more professional and clean!
From the first day I arrived my nurse Aaron and his CNA’s treated me like I was family. They explained everything to me upfront and made sure I had everything I needed to enjoy my stay there. My first impressions was that this is short-lived. Give it two weeks and the customer service would fade. 4 weeks later I had no complaints. They treated me with the same respect and customer service from the first day to the last. I also appreciated their physical therapy department. Paul worked with me with patients but also pushed me in order to get the results my doctor wanted to see. Paul is a true professional and has experience in his field.
I will always recommend this facility to anyone who needs a short-term therapy or long-term stay.
Healthcare POA
The Selfhelp Home is definitely the first choice for a post hospital stay. The staff greets you with a smile, a warm reception and always thoughtful practices.
Irv continues to rave about the excellent PT he has received. He says, “Boy, they work you out!” His other great announcement is how attentive the staff is. “They won’t let me walk by myself. My nurse is always in here quick when I need her.” As his Healthcare POA, I am so very pleased with the professionalism and fabulous patient care I’ve witnessed. I have had nothing but exceptional service from the front desk to the floor.
The professionalism, cleanliness, the smiles and the courtesy calls are so beyond some experiences I’ve had with SNF’s and rehabilitation facilities. Not only am I pleased, but the patient (Irwin L.) is pleased. He was taken to the hospital for a possible stroke two days ago. After all the tests shared no stroke, he was given the option of staying there for a few days or return to Selfhelp. He says, “I’d rather go back to Selfhelp. There I’ll have someone always close and the food is good.”
Rehab Patient
I entered the Selfhelp Home after emergency surgery for a broken leg (Femur) I was told a rehab facility was required and I had a vague awareness of The SelfHelp Home.
I called, was accommodated graciously and entered not knowing what to expect. There in no way to analyze or describe all aspects of the experience at SelfHelp but the bottom line includes the descriptive term: “superb”. No facility could do better in terms of satisfying all aspects of care and personal accommodations. It is clear that the personnel and administration of the facility are directed to achieving the goal of satisfying the patients needs as its primary objective. They succeeded for me to continue to do so for all in need of their services.
Rehabilitation Fees
Medicare
The Selfhelp Home is a 5-star, Medicare-certified, healthcare facility. A portion of your stay may not be covered by Medicare. Your supplemental insurance policy may cover these costs. You are encouraged to inquire about your benefits.
Private Insurance
In addition to Medicare, The Selfhelp Home also accepts private insurance for short-term rehabilitation.
Private Pay:
If you are planning to pay privately, the physical, occupational and speech therapy program of your stay may be covered by your insurance policy. If you are paying for your short-term rehabilitation stay, the following private pay rates will apply:
Private Pay
$550per day
- - Private bathroom and shower
- - Three meals per day
- - 24-hour skilled nursing care
- - Assistance with activities of daily living
- - Recreational and social activities
- - Special programs
- - State of the art rehabilitation gym
- - Physical, occupational and speech therapy offered 7 days a week*
- *(Not included in the daily rate but may be covered by insurance or can be paid for privately)
Short-Term Rehab Respite Options
Skilled Nursing Respite
$450 daily rate | Maximum 2 week/14-day stay
- For hospital patients who have been discharged home and Medicare does not cover short-term rehabilitation and cannot manage at home.
- An option to continue short-term therapy at Selfhelp after discharge and insurance coverage for therapy has ended.
- Access to therapy through other insurance benefits or private pay.
- Regular daily rates apply after 14 days
All prices listed are effective as of October 2022 and are subject to change.