Our interdisciplinary treatment team will coordinate your family member�s medical and therapeutic treatment programs, as well as educate and counsel you throughout the rehabilitation process.  Because the team members are assembled according to the needs of each patient, the composition of the team may vary from patient to patient. Do not be concerned if your family member�s treatment team does not include all of the individuals listed below.

ATTENDING PHYSICIAN
The physician caring for your family member is a physiatrist, a medical doctor who is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The physiatrist will oversee all aspects of your family member�s care, evaluating upon admission, managing daily medical needs and supervising the rehabilitation program. Your physiatrist may consult other specialists such as neurologists, neurosurgeons, endocrinologists or orthopedists as needed. 

The physiatrist will send weekly medical updates to the referring physician and will also send a discharge summary to all physicians who have worked with the patient or will be working with the patient after discharge.  

RESIDENT PHYSICIAN
The resident physician is a medical doctor in training in the specialty area of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Resident physicians are available 24 hours a day. As doctors in training, the residents rotate throughout the hospital and are on the unit for one to two months at a time.

REHABILITATION NURSE
The rehabilitation nurse is responsible for implementing daily care, evaluating patient needs and helping to establish therapeutic goals. The nurse also assists the patient in the retraining of self-care skills, such as personal hygiene, mobility, intake of food or medication, dressing and bowel and bladder control.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST (OT)
The occupational therapist focuses on the evaluation and improvement of physical, cognitive and perceptual skills that affect the patient�s ability to perform functional tasks, often referred to as activities of daily living (ADLs). ADLs include self-care skills such as dressing, grooming and preparing a meal; independent living skills such as money management; and community living skills such as the use of public transportation. The occupational therapist also assesses the patient�s need for adaptive equipment (tub chair, raised toilet seat, etc.) and will make upper extremity splints and casts.

SPEECH THERAPIST (ST)
The speech therapist works with patients who have problems expressing and understanding language, as well as patients who have swallowing disorders. Speech therapy may involve the evaluation and treatment of a patient�s language skills (auditory comprehension, verbal expression, reading and writing skills), speech skills (articulation) and cognitive-linguistic skills (memory, problem solving, reasoning, organization and executive function skills).  Swallowing therapy may involve teaching the patient and family special techniques to compensate for the patient�s swallowing deficits and modifying the patient's diet, which allows him or her to eat and/or drink safely.

PSYCHOLOGIST
The psychologist helps patients to adjust and cope with their deficits. By helping individuals recognize both problems and strengths, the psychologist works with the patients to raise their self-esteem. The psychologist identifies behavioral factors, which may affect a patient�s treatment and outcome, and when necessary, a structured and consistent behavior intervention plan is developed. When appropriate, the psychologist will conduct neuropsychological evaluations. These evaluations consist of a series of tests designed to assess orientation, attention/concentration, information processing speed, visual-spatial language, memory, learning, reasoning and problem-solving functions. The results are used in the development of an overall treatment plan.

SOCIAL WORKER
The social worker assigned to work with your family has various roles.  He or she will educate you in the recovery process; coordinate discharge and aftercare plans and provide counseling and support to you and other family members. The social worker will also assist in scheduling conferences and meetings.

THERAPEUTIC RECREATION SPECIALIST
The therapeutic recreation specialist assists your family member in identifying, developing or resuming leisure activities. The initial intake consists of assessing your family member�s physical, cognitive, behavioral and social skills as well as discussing personal and cultural lifestyle. Upon completion of the initial interview, a personalized recreational therapy program will be developed, if indicated.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST (PT)
The role of the physical therapist is to help your family member regain the motor control needed to achieve the highest level of independent mobility. They evaluate the patient�s balance, endurance, ability to walk and negotiate stairs, the need for assistive devices such as walkers or canes, as well as the need for any lower extremity bracing. Therapeutic activities may be basic, such as exercises on a mat, or advanced, as in working outdoors or in crowded situations. 

TRAINING COORDINATOR
One of the team members will be designated as a training coordinator.� This person will contact you after the initial patient care conference, and he or she will serve as a communication link to the treatment team.  The training coordinator is also responsible for scheduling observation and training day sessions, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. 

Join Us

If you are interested in joining our team, please view our job listings or visit www.lifejobs.org to view all job openings at Lifebridge Health