Whitemarsh House Scope

1. Population

Ages- Whitemarsh House serves individuals, 18 years or older. Currently the population ages range from 24 to 74 years old. The characteristics of persons served are described here. 23 residents were served in 2020, receiving an average of 4 hours of treatment per day. 2 residents transitioned to other programs; 1 to another brain injury program (medically stable) and 1 to a higher level of care due to medical issues requiring repeat hospitalizations. Satisfaction surveys reflect a high level of satisfaction among residents and families of residents. Outcomes’ data reflect a high level of program effectiveness.

Activity Limitations – Residents may vary greatly in activity capacity though Whitemarsh House does not serve individuals who are permanently bed-ridden, comatose or in a vegetative state. Residents may be fully mobile or require the aid of assistive devices such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs and so forth. Residents may be independent in self-care or require cues and assist or may require maximum self-care assistance. Residents may range from those who can independently drive to those who can independently take public transportation to those who are totally dependent for transportation needs. Obviously, even for individuals who are fully mobile, cognitive or judgment issues may affect levels of independence.

Behavioral and Psychological Status – Persons served range across a broad spectrum of disabilities. One specialization involves serving individuals with brain injury. This may be acquired brain trauma or organic damage from birth. The source of injury is generally traumatic brain injury (TBI) but may also include individuals with Anoxia, Brain tumors, Stroke or other sources of brain damage. Non-brain trauma diagnoses are also served and are considered within the programmatic scope of Whitemarsh House. These may include people with Intellectual Disabilities, Psychoses, Neuroses, Autism Spectrum Disorders or other disabilities. Whitemarsh House does not serve actively suicidal, homicidal or intensely violent individuals.  Furthermore, the facility does not accommodate active elopers, fire setters or severe conduct disorders. Potential residents are assessed by facility management and clinical personnel. Whitemarsh House reserves the right to decline admission to anyone who cannot benefit from services or who cannot, for any reason, be safely managed at the facility.

Cultural Needs – Whitemarsh House adheres to a policy of cultural diversity and will accommodate all possible cultures and cultural desires including rights to worship or special dietary needs. Accommodation of cultural needs does not include individuals who by dint of belief system refuse basic medical attention for serious or life-threatening illness.

Impairments – As stated above, Whitemarsh can and does serve a wide range of impairments.

Medical Acuity – When an individual’s medical status becomes too acute for this personal care home setting, residents will be referred for temporary care to more acute settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, rehab hospitals and so forth. Once the condition is stabilized, the resident may be re-admitted to Whitemarsh House. Keys to the need for acute medical care may be the need for round-the-clock nursing care and acute or highly specialized Physician attention.

Medical Stability – Whitemarsh House residents must be sufficiently stable for legal placement in a Pennsylvania licensed Personal Care Home and must not require a nursing home (skilled care setting) or hospital setting.

Participation Restrictions – There are minimal participation requirements or restrictions on residents. Participation in various program activities is a matter of choice. However, if lack of participation leads to a situation which is unsafe or in which an individual cannot benefit from placement at Whitemarsh House, the facility will help the resident seek transfer to a more appropriate setting or situation. 

Intended Transition/Discharge Environments – Residents may enter Whitemarsh House with the intention of long-term placement or with the expectation of transition or discharge to a less restrictive setting. In each situation, the transition and discharge planning and work toward positive outcomes along a continuum of care will be crafted to the individual needs and wishes of the resident. Sometimes, unfortunately, a person served may cognitively or physically decline to where a more acute setting is required. Again, Whitemarsh House will work to accommodate those needs on an individual basis.

2. Settings

Whitemarsh House is an open, unlocked setting located on 3 acres of land. The main building currently is a large 18 room, three-story mansion in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. The main building at licensed capacity can accommodate up to 26 residents. It contains residential and day program space as well as a kitchen, living room, recreation room and dining and office space. The main building is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services as a Personal Care Home. We also offer off campus apartments where appropriate, that also provide 24-hour supervision, as needed.

3. Hours and Days

Whitemarsh House is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year and is staffed at all times. There are no set visiting hours as visitors for residents are free to come at any time. At the present time due to the Coronavirus visitation is restricted as per state order. Under normal conditions the suggested visiting hours for the main house are 8AM to 8PM.

4. Frequency of Services

Residential Programming is offered at all times. Day Program services are 10AM to12PM and 2PM to 4PM Monday through Saturday. Any further services are accommodated at other hours as needed on an individual basis.

5. Payer Sources

Pennsylvania Medicaid Waiver, Private Pay, Liens on Litigation (As vetted by Whitemarsh House attorneys), Private Trusts and Settlements, Private Insurance that is permissible in a Personal Care Home that is not a licensed nursing or hospital facility. This licensure designation eliminates the use of many medical insurance policies, but it does permit Pennsylvania No-Fault, New Jersey No-Fault, Michigan No-Fault and other automotive No-Fault policies as well as Workers Compensation and the Pennsylvania Catastrophic Head Injury Fund. Under certain contracts, Pennsylvania Department of Vocational Services may serve as a payer and extra-contractual Veterans Administration (VA) and Department of Defense (DOD) arrangements can be made, though the facility does not currently have residents funded by the VA or DOD.

6. Fees

Fees vary with individual needs and programming.

7. Referral Sources

Referral Sources include social workers, discharge planners from Rehabilitation Hospitals, case managers, case management entities representing the Pennsylvania Medicaid Waiver, attorneys, trust officers, families, representatives of other facilities serving similar residents, and, on rare occasions, self-referral.

8. Services

In-House services include residential care, day programming, nursing, clinical interventions and Neuropsychology. Referred services include Speech, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physiatry and Vocational Services. Podiatry, Psychiatry and the oversight of a Physician are provided in-house or through appointment at Physician’s office. The attending Physician also serves as Whitemarsh House Medical Director. While Whitemarsh House arranges for the Physician, residents are obviously free to arrange their own personal attending doctors.