Inpatient Rehab Services
Physiatry
Available 24 hours a day, our physiatrists are medical doctors specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. They visit with patients and staff daily and meet with the clinical rehabilitation team weekly to discuss each patient’s progress. The physiatrist directs and determines the medical and rehabilitative services each patients needs during their stay and following discharge.
Physical Therapy
Many of our patients will require physical therapy to help improve their mobility, range of motion, strength, balance, coordination and endurance. Working toward an individualized patient goal, our therapists can help patients learn how to climb stairs, walk and use a wheelchair. They also offer education on safety, mobility and adaptive devices.
Therapeutic Aquatics
Directed by a therapist certified by the American Red Cross in adaptive aquatics training, our aquatics program complements the patient’s rehabilitation program, allowing the patient to perform various exercises and movements in a gravity-free, temperature-controlled environment.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy helps patients develop, restore and maintain their ability to perform tasks in daily living and work environments. Techniques used by our occupational therapists help improve basic motor skills, decision making, abstract reasoning, problem-solving and perceptual skills. In addition, they focus on memory, sequencing and coordination. They also offer education on safety, mobility and adaptive devices.
Recreational Therapy
Our recreational therapists help patients develop realistic life plans, including the necessary skills for returning to positive life opportunities. They also introduce patients to modifications and alternatives such as healthy lifestyle practices, time management, social skill development, leisure interests and problem solving for community barriers.
Speech Therapy
Our speech therapists treat patients with swallowing, speech, memory and cognitive dysfunctions. Patients focus on regaining speaking, understanding language, writing, communication, memory, reading, eating and swallowing skills.
Spinal Cord Injury Therapy
Whether you have sustained a spinal cord injury from a traumatic cause such as an accident or sports-related injury or a non-traumatic cause such as arthritis, inflammation or cancer, UPMC inpatient rehabilitation services offers advanced care to help you achieve independence again.
Brain Injury Therapy
UPMC’s inpatient rehab specialists can help evaluate and treat adults and adolescents ages 13 and over who have an acquired brain injury. Whether this injury was sustained from a traumatic (car accident or sports injury) or non-traumatic (stroke or brain aneurysm) cause, our team can help recover cognitive, perceptual, physical and behavioral symptoms of the injury.
Rehabilitation Liaison Services
Rehabilitation liaisons review and evaluate potential patients for inpatient services. They will meet with patients and their families prior to admission to explain the program and services as well as give them a tour of the facility. Additionally, our liaisons collaborate with case managers and social workers from referring facilities as well as the admitting physician and nurses from our inpatient unit to ensure a smooth transition.
Rehabilitation Nursing
Specializing in rehabilitation, the nurses on 5 West can provide the most updated care and individualized therapy programs as prescribed by the rehab team. They often assist patients with brushing their teeth, bathing and dressing. Many are certified to provide bowel and bladder training and other medical care necessary to promote good health.
Neuropsychology
Our neuropsychologists are involved when patients have concerns with cognitive, emotional and social changes. They offer suggestions to patients and caregivers to help ease the transition to independence.
Social Services
Our social workers meet with every patient upon admission to assess any anticipated discharge needs. They support patients and their caregivers and arrange for post-discharge services and adaptive equipment.
Hospitalist Services
For patients who had an existing medical condition prior to inpatient admission, our hospitalists can ensure that patients continue receiving the proper care and treatment they require.
Wound Care
When patients already have skin or wound care concerns, the wound care specialists help treat the wound, decrease risk for further injury and recommend prevention and management equipment. They can also provide ostomy care when needed.
Respiratory Therapy
Our respiratory therapists deliver treatments to patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders. They perform evaluations, treatments and make recommendations for respiratory needs upon discharge.
Case Management
Case managers are registered nurses (RNs) who can assist social workers in coordinating medical care for patients upon discharge, such as home IV therapy.
Nutrition Support
Our on-site registered, licensed dietitians provide nutritional assessments, counseling, education and monitoring for patients’ nutritional needs.
Pastoral Care
Upon request, our chaplains are available to provide patients or caregivers with emotional and spiritual support.
Volunteer & Safety Support
Many volunteers have experienced rehabilitation themselves and can offer encouragement and support to patients and caregivers. Additionally, to ensure the safety of some of our patients, a 24-hour companionship might be ordered by a physician as needed.
Interpretation
Interpretation services can be arranged by the patient’s social worker prior to admission to help with language or sign communication between patients and the rehab team.
Vocational Rehabilitation Coordination
Our social workers coordinate vocational rehabilitation through the state Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR). Vocational rehabilitation will provide specialized support that will help the patient return to their place of employment when appropriate.