Patients in the Acute Rehabilitation Unit, on the fifth floor of the hospital, receive the compassionate, individualized attention they need to recover from serious injury and get back to a normal lifestyle. A sunny gymnasium and a dining area add to the homey environment.

Our rehab team—including physiatrists, registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and recreational therapists—are focused on a common goal: To help patients regain the strength, stamina and agility they need to live as independently as possible.

A patient’s stay in rehabilitation involves hours of intensive therapies daily and support from every member of the staff.

Wide-Ranging Care

The staff of the 19-bed rehabilitation unit provide individualized services for people who are recovering from a wide range of injuries and conditions, including stroke, burns, spinal cord injury, amputation, major multiple trauma, hip fracture, joint replacement, brain injury and neurological disorders.

Physiatrists

Physicians who specialize in rehabilitation medicine, called physiatrists, work with patients to get them back to a high level of function so they can go home and resume normal activities and an enjoyable lifestyle.

Registered Nurses

Registered nurses on the rehabilitation unit provide pain management, skin care, and help with normal bowel and bladder function. Nurses also look after the patient’s overall safety while in the rehabilitation unit.

Physical Therapy

Patients may need help with “gross motor skills,” the sorts of coordinated movements like walking, pushing and pulling. Physical therapists work with physicians, the patient and the patient's loved ones to develop a treatment plan that will provide the most benefit for the patient. Services offered through physical therapy include endurance training, stamina exercises and gait (walking) training.

Recreational Therapy

An aspect of physical therapy is recreational, where patients are given an opportunity to regain such basic skills as walking on uneven surfaces, using stairs and walking on inclines and declines.

Occupational Therapy

Patients often also need help with “fine motor skills,” the movements that involve delicate hand and finger control. The rehabilitation unit’s occupational therapists help patients recover the skills they need to take on the activities of daily living, such as grooming, cooking, eating, bathing and using the restroom.

Speech Therapy

When injury affects the ability to communicate or eat properly, the rehabilitation unit’s speech therapists step in with services that help patients recover these crucial skills. Speech therapy may include such activities as swallow evaluation, help with consuming particular diets and practice speaking.

A Comfortable Atmosphere

Rehabilitation unit patients dress every day in their street clothes and eat together in the unit's dining room. In the gym, they have the opportunity to play a variety of games, including Wii, a video game system that develops agility, balance and coordination.

For more information about the inpatient Acute Rehabilitation Unit, call (213) 484-7587 or e-mail mailto:brianchavarin@dochs.org.