Physical Medicine

Physiatrists are specialists in diagnosing and treating problems of the musculoskeletal system and its neurological control.

About

Acute Rehabilitation at Cayuga Health

Physical and Medical Rehabilitation Unit (PMRU) at Cayuga Medical Center is an Acute Rehabilitation Unit that helps prepare you to cope with changes in lifestyle following trauma or illness. The rehabilitation team consists of Physiatrists, nurses, hospital aides, social workers, Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Recreational therapists. You and your family are the most important members of the Rehabilitation Team and all the activities of the unit revolve around your needs, with your family in a vital supporting role. Our goal is to help you regain as much function and independence as possible. Your medical diagnosis may always remain the same; however, your functional level can improve through the combined efforts of you, your family and the Rehabilitation team. Together we will help you acquire new skills and adjust to your new situation.

Why Choose Acute Rehabilitation at Cayuga Health

Our Acute Rehabilitation unit is conveniently located within Cayuga Medical Center, providing rehabilitative services to our community for over 22 years. We have an experienced and board-certified rehabilitation team. We are regional leaders in patient outcomes and approach each patient individually to meet their specific needs and provide person-centered care.

Acute Rehab vs Subacute Rehab

What separates Acute Rehab from Subacute Rehab is location, intensity of therapies, and medical management and supervision of your condition. Acute rehab units are generally located in a hospital setting with daily supervision and medical management of conditions by a Physiatrist, or a medical doctor that specializes in rehabilitative care. Therapy in Acute rehab is multi-disciplinary, comprehensive, and more intensive, with participation in therapy for at least 3 hours per day for up to five-six days per week. A Subacute rehab facility is most often located in a Skilled Nursing Facility with less supervision from a medical doctor, usually without specialization in rehabilitative medicine. Frequency and intensity of therapy in subacute rehab is less intensive.

Some reasons patients come to rehab after a hospital admission:

  • Injuries and conditions: Strokes, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, post-surgical and fracture recovery, surgical amputations.
  • Diseases: Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Heart and Lung Diseases.

Team Consists of:

  • Physiatrists
  • Rehabilitation Nurses
  • Speech Pathologists
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Physical Therapists
  • Recreational Therapist
  • Social Worker
  • Nursing assistants

The purpose and goal of occupational therapy in the rehab setting are to work on your ability to care for yourself as independently as you need to in order to go home. Occupational Therapists work on the skills you need in order to accomplish your daily activities like getting dressed, taking a shower, managing preparing a meal for yourself and doing your laundry. These daily activities may become difficult after having an injury, a surgery, or a new diagnosis. Together, we will work on your strength, coordination, balance and endurance so that you can participate in your daily routines again.

Physical therapists are movement specialists and focus on improving impairments in strength, balance, endurance, and coordination to improve your movement and allow you the greatest amount of independence. The movements we focus on are integral to your daily routine, including getting in and out of bed, getting up from a chair, moving between surfaces, walking, and going up or down the stairs. Depending on your specific condition, we will also work together with you, your family, and the Rehabilitation team to determine the best home set-up and equipment recommendations for a safe discharge plan to maximize independence.

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders. Speech Language Pathologists can treat a variety of diagnoses including cognitive disorders and neurological conditions including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and various types of brain injuries.

How to Become a Patient

After a life-changing illness or injury, ask your provider to be evaluated for admission into our Acute Rehab facility. You will then be evaluated by an appropriate provider, case manager, and most likely physical and occupational therapy to determine if intensive, acute rehabilitation is appropriate for you. If accepted, you will be transferred to Acute Rehab as soon as you are medically stable.

Physical Medicine

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