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.