Inpatient Rehabilitation Services

The Rehabilitation Physician is a doctor who is specially trained in rehabilitation medicine, and who will manage and coordinate your program. The physician, nurses and each team member completes your initial assessment and outlines the goals for your treatment. The rehabilitation physician directs your care while you are here as well as after discharge for continued therapy as needed.

Rehabilitation Nurses provide twenty-four hour nursing care. The nursing staff will help you with activities of daily living, administer medications and prescribed treatments. They teach you about your disability and how to take care of yourself and teach others, who may be needed to assist you at home. They reinforce the skills you are learning to promote your independence and lessen dependence on others. St. Joseph Hospital is proud to have a large number of Certified Rehab Nurses (CRRN) on staff.

Occupational Therapists assist you in learning the skills and adaptations necessary to regain function and satisfaction in the home, the workplace and the community. This is accomplished by strengthening and improving coordination to overcome or lessen disabilities. Therapy may include grooming, bathing, dressing, swallowing treatment and household tasks and activities to help you return to your previous lifestyle.

Physical Therapists assess your ability to move about safely. They evaluate your strength, flexibility, muscle tone, coordination and endurance levels. The plan of treatment includes ways to improve in these areas to maximize your potential for recovery. Therapy will include training in bed mobility, transfers from bed, chair, toilet and car and gait or wheelchair mobility.

Speech Language Therapists: Communication disorders may include difficulty in speaking, understanding, thinking, reasoning, memory, reading, writing or mathematics. The Speech Language Therapist will evaluate each of these components to determine your therapy needs and will follow through with treatment. If you have swallowing problems, they can be evaluated and a treatment plan developed.

Recreation Therapists evaluate your previous leisure interests and abilities. Treatment consists of individual and group sessions, using therapy education and participation to increase your physical, mental and social abilities enabling you to resume these meaningful activities. Treatment may also consist of community outings to reinforce skills and activities learned in therapy to facilitate your transition from rehabilitation to home and the community. Outings also assist family members to effectively overcome obstacles encountered in the community.

Social Services: The Social Workers assist you in identifying your goals and monitoring your progress to return to your home and community. They act as facilitators for emotional support and assist you in developing skills to cope with the changes resulting from illness and disability.

Case Management is the process by which we can assure you of a cohesive, transdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation; beginning with the receipt of your referral, continuing throughout your stay, at discharge, and in the transition back into the community. Your team meets weekly in conferences that are attended by your rehabilitation doctor, nurses, therapists and social workers. These team meetings are held to review your progress and update your plan of treatment and goals.

Case management services provide communication with insurance companies and referring physicians through telephone calls and written reports and also facilitate communication between the patient, the family and all the team members.

Dietitian: The Registered Dietitian evaluates your nutritional needs and plans with you a diet based upon your food preferences and any restrictions prescribed by your physician. Prior to discharge the dietitian will instruct you regarding special diet requirements you are to follow at home.

Respiratory Therapists are available to assess your respiratory status and provide an individualized treatment plan when ordered by your physician.

Prosthetist/Orthotists are available for making braces, artificial limbs and other adaptive devices when needed to improve your function or safety.