Through the Department of Rehabilitation Services, patients have access to a variety of specialists and professionals, a compassionate support staff and state-of-the-art equipment. Programs are available to both inpatients and outpatients.
For people with health problems resulting from injury or disease, a Physical Therapist assists in recovery by making them stronger, relieving their pain, helping them regain use of a weak limb or relearn functional activities such as standing, walking or stair climbing. Physical Therapy provides orthopedic rehabilitation for sports injuries, fractures, arthritis, amputations and tendonitis. The department also provides neurological rehabilitation for strokes, multiple sclerosis, cord injuries, balance disorders and movement disorders including Parkinson's disease.
Physical Therapists may perform the following treatments for their patients:
- Therapeutic Exercise to Strengthen Muscles or Regain Use of an Injured Limb
- Functional Training to Stand or Walk
- Movement Re-Education for children and adults
- Balance Training
- Stretch Stiff Muscles
- Training in the Use of Artificial Limbs & Assistive Devises
- Pain Reduction through the Use of Ultrasound, Exercise or Electrotherapy
- Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Cardiovascular Endurance Training
Services are available on an inpatient and outpatient basis. Specialty programs offered in the department include:
- Vestibular Rehabilitation
- Sports Medicine
- Incontinence Training & Pelvic Pain Treatment
- Back Pain in Pregnancy, Pre & Post Natal Exercise Consultations
- Wound Care
- Exercise and Osteoporosis
- Functional Capacity Evaluations/Work Conditioning
- Lymphedema Treatment
Occupational Therapy promotes independent, safe functioning in self-care and facilitates a patient's return to the community following illness, injury or disability. Patients receive training in everyday tasks such as dressing and bathing, preparing a meal, or managing a home. Occupational Therapists also assist patients in the re-learning of skills to return to work or school. A hand rehabilitation program for all types of hand injuries and dysfunctions is also available.
Through the use of functional activities, treatments may focus on the following:
- Dressing, Grooming & Hygiene tasks
- Upper Body Strengthening
- Fine Motor Skills
- Compensation for Visual Impairments
- Adapting the Home Environment
- Energy Conservation, Breathing Techniques
- Sensory Stimulation
- Problem Solving
- Compensation for Memory Loss
Occupational therapists also treat hand and wrist injuries, including the fabrication of static and dynamic splints.
Speech-Language pathologists help both children and adults develop their communication abilities and provide help for patients ages, and disorders including stroke, dysphagia (swallowing disorders), laryngectomy, delayed language in children, articulation (pronunciation errors), stuttering, voice problems and neurological disorders. as well as treat speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders that may result from illness or disease. Services may include:
- Training to Improve Swallowing
- Facilitating the Production of Proper Speech Sounds
- Helping People Who Have Difficulty Understanding or Producing Language
- Assisting in Voice Improvement
- Helping People Who Stutter Speak Fluently
Videoflouroscopic swallow studies are performed on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The study includes having the patient swallow various consistencies of food and drink to assess for swallowing disorders. Swallow studies are performed in the radiology department on the ground floor of the hospital. Outpatient speech - language pathology is offered on the first floor of the hospital for adults and children, with a newly renovated pediatric treatment room.
Community Medical Center’s Department of Rehabilitation Services provides a full range of services for the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of dysphagia — difficulty in swallowing that may affect a person’s ability to manage saliva, liquids or food.
Dysphagia, pronounced “dis FAY jee uh,” can be related to problems in the mouth (oral dysphagia), throat (pharyngeal dysphagia), esophagus (esophageal dysphagia) or a combination of these locations.
Dysphagia is caused by many different medical conditions, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, cancer of the head and neck, progressive neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
At Community, speech-language pathologists are specially skilled in a variety of techniques and exercises that are tailored to a person’s particular swallowing problems.
Following a full dysphagia evaluation, which may include a videofluoroscopic swallowing study performed in conjunction with a radiologist, treatment may consist of therapeutic exercises, diet texture changes and/or the use of compensatory strategies to facilitate safe, efficient swallowing and the maintenance of adequate nutrition.
VitalStim therapy is recommended for patients suffering from oropharyngeal dysphagia. People with dysphagia have difficulty in swallowing — a condition that can be as mild as swallowing foods and liquids to the complete inability to eat or drink anything by mouth. A large number of head and neck cancer patients are affected by dysphagia.
Community Medical Center’s speech-language pathologists are certified in VitalStim — a Food and Drug Administration-approved therapy that uses specially designed electrodes applied to the throat muscles in the front of the neck to stimulate the inactive muscles and promote swallowing.
Rehabilitative therapy, such as swallowing-related exercises, is provided in conjunction with VitalStim to help “re-educate” the muscles.
A physician’s order is needed for VitalStim therapy, which must be provided by a VitalStim-certified professional.
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