Gillette Lifetime Specialty Healthcare
St. Paul - Phalen Clinic
Map and directions
At Gillette Lifetime Specialty Healthcare, we see teens (16 and older) and adults who were diagnosed during childhood with conditions that limit their abilities. We’re part of Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, which for more than 110 years has provided medical care and therapy to people who have disabilities and complex medical conditions. Since 2001, Gillette Lifetime has focused on the needs of older teens and adults. After opening at the New Brighton Clinic, Gillette Lifetime expanded our services and moved to the St. Paul – Phalen Clinic in 2007.
A Team Approach
Integrated Care
The Future is Now
The Services You Need
Making an Appointment
You know your needs and abilities better than anyone else does. That’s why we encourage you to take part — as you’re able — in determining the services that are best for you. Gillette Lifetime offers therapies, medicine, surgery, adaptive equipment and other types of support to help improve your quality of life. We collaborate with you and other providers to plan comprehensive care that reflects your preferences and priorities.
In addition to providing services at our facility, we help you arrange for ongoing care in your community. In fact, we believe it’s vital to work with your primary-care physician. If you don’t have a primary-care physician, we’ll discuss options for finding appropriate providers for your ongoing health-care needs.
Designed for You
We designed our St. Paul – Phalen Clinic specifically to meet the needs of older teens and adults. The hallways, examination rooms and treatment spaces are large enough for adults to maneuver wheelchairs easily.
We have the equipment and staff necessary to lift, transfer, weigh and otherwise accommodate adult patients. For example, our scale can weigh someone who’s using a wheelchair. And our examination chairs recline, tilt and provide support. Adjustable equipment makes pelvic examinations, X-rays and other procedures more effective and comfortable, especially for people who have such issues as spasticity (abnormally stiff muscles).
Our therapy gym offers space for exercise (including balance, strengthening, walking and standing sessions), equipment evaluations, and range-of-motion assessments. Our therapy kitchen lets you practice cooking and other independent-living skills. It also lets you try out adaptive feeding equipment and appliances. Similarly, our treatment bathroom lets you practice transferring to and from a toilet and bathtub. In addition, you can practice using adaptive bath and toileting equipment.
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We coordinate visits with multiple providers, making it easier for you to get all the services you need. For example, in one day and at one location, you might see:
- A social worker
- A nurse, physician and/or nurse practitioner
- An occupational or physical therapist
- An assistive-technology practitioner (for equipment such as seating, orthotics and prosthetics)
We address your physical needs while considering your cognitive, social and emotional concerns.
We offer selected medical exams — including women’s health care — that might otherwise be difficult for you to obtain. We also address the complex issues related to wounds that result from immobility, loss of sensation and inadequate pressure relief.
Although we see adults with all sorts of childhood-onset conditions, we specialize in treating people who have cerebral palsy, neuromuscular conditions and spina bifida. We also offer a range of services for people who had polio as children and now need care as adults.
Cerebral Palsy
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If you have cerebral palsy, we can help you manage the symptoms — including spasticity — that you might be experiencing. In addition, we can help prevent or reduce such problems as pressure sores, muscle contractures, and overuse of your shoulders and wrists. Our specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation and adult general medicine can address your health and aging concerns and guide your decisions.
Neuromuscular Conditions
If you have a neuromuscular disorder — particularly a progressive condition, such as muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy or a mitochondrial condition — ongoing treatment can help reduce the intensity of your symptoms. For example, we can help you prevent or ease muscle contractures and joint deformities. Our neurologists, cardiologists, and physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians recommend therapies, bracing and adaptive equipment that will help you maintain or improve your daily activity level.
Spina Bifida
If you have spina bifida, you can obtain a full range of services at Gillette Lifetime. Our neurosurgeons, urologists, and physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians address the lifelong issues related to spina bifida, including bowel and bladder concerns and walking difficulties.
Polio
If you had polio as a child, we can suggest strategies to address the muscle weakness, muscular fatigue, general fatigue, and pain you might experience as an adult. If you have complex swallowing or respiratory concerns, we’ll connect you with a provider in your community who can provide services.
Your Care Team
Your care team might include any of these types of specialists:
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Planning for adulthood can be exciting — and sometimes overwhelming. That’s why Gillette Lifetime created a transition program, which focuses on legal, medical and independent-living issues for people who have disabilities. We work with you, your family and your caregivers to help you prepare for adulthood.
Although people who have significant disabilities might rely on others for care, there are still many reasons to address transition issues. We can help you and your family:
- Develop good health practices
- Deal with health effects related to your disability
- Address legal issues as you approach adulthood
- Plan lifelong care
- Address chronic health needs
We encourage you and your family to talk with your health-care providers about how and when to move from pediatric to adult-focused care. We’ll coordinate our services with those of your other providers, helping you obtain the health services you need.
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At the St. Paul – Phalen Clinic, you’ll have access to the following services.
Assistive Technology
Assistive technology fosters independence and improves health. For example, it can help you move more easily, control your environment and communicate more effectively.
We help you select appropriate assistive-technology equipment. We also modify and design equipment specifically for you. Assistive-technology equipment includes:
- Orthoses (braces) to manage weak or stiff muscles
- Prostheses (artificial limbs) to supplement limb loss
- Splinting to prevent muscle contractures and make movement easier
- Standers, gait trainers and recreational equipment to promote fitness and mobility
- Communication systems to supplement or take the place of spoken conversations
- Computer-access software and hardware to make it easier for you to use technology
- Custom seating systems that provide proper body support
- Powered mobility equipment specific to your abilities
- Access systems and devices to help you open doors, turn on lights and operate appliances
Chronic Pain Assessments and Treatment
Adults with childhood-onset conditions often live with chronic pain. We help you manage pain and stress by promoting good nutrition and exercise appropriate to your abilities. Proper seating and treatments to decrease spasticity also help reduce pain. Some of our examination rooms are equipped with nitrous oxide, which helps reduce the pain and anxiety associated with some clinical procedures.
Resource Center
We offer printed and video resources about disabilities and related issues. You may use our computers to gain access to the Internet, and we’ll help you search for information.
Social and Emotional Needs
We offer individual and family counseling to help you address issues related to disabilities, relationships, emotional health and stress. We educate families, caregivers and significant others about issues related to adult care. Our chaplains offer spiritual and emotional support to people who desire it.
Our staff has expertise in issues related to education, work, relationships and other emotional or behavioral concerns. For example, we can help you plan strategies for living independently, continuing your education and seeking employment. More specifically, we can:
- Assess your needs to see if you qualify for such services as a personal-care attendant
- Test your learning abilities to help you work toward employment and educational goals
- Help you locate financial and community resources
- Identify recreational and fitness resources while educating you about a healthy lifestyle
We also can provide educational materials and discuss your questions concerning relationships and sexuality. Just give us a call, and we’ll connect you with the person best suited to help with your concern.
Rehabilitation Therapies
We evaluate your needs and provide treatments, create home programs and recommend equipment. Our staff helps you develop hand and arm movements used to perform daily activities. We also can help you improve your motor skills, strength and coordination. In addition, our staff assesses speech, language and swallowing problems and recommends treatments or assistive-technology devices.
Making an Appointment
Your insurance might require you to obtain a referral from your primary-care physician before you come to Gillette Lifetime. Otherwise, you’re welcome to make an appointment on your own.
If you’re not sure what your insurance requires, call us at , and we’ll help you find out. You can also call that number if you need more information about Gillette Lifetime.
Questions or information:
Ronna Linroth, manager of adult outpatient services
651-636-9443 or 800-578-4266 (toll-free) .
For appointments, call: 651-290-8707 or 800-719-4040 (toll-free).
