
Lake Charles Memorial will custom design your physical and occupational
therapy team to meet your individual needs. This is
your rehabilitation team and the following describes the role each member plays
in your recovery.
The
rehabilitation physician is a Physiatrist. A Physiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in
physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists are trained in impairment
assessment, medical complications of impairment and rehabilitation team
management. The Physiatrist monitors your health, evaluates your physical
capabilities and leads the team of nurses and therapists in making and
carrying out your individualized treatment program.
The
rehabilitation nurses are with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The nursing staff helps you
with the various activities of daily living. They administer medications
and treatments, teach you and your family about your capabilities, and
help you use the skills you have learned in therapy.
The
physical therapist assesses your movement ability and evaluates your condition and potential.
Based upon these results, the physical therapist will design a treatment
program to restore and maximize your movement and function. Special exercises
will help you restore movement by improving the quality of your muscle
tone, coordination, balance strength, endurance and joint flexibility.
These efforts are directed at improving your mobility, which may range
from wheelchair skills to walking.
The
occupational therapist assists you in regained the skills and changes required for you to be
independent, productive and satisfied at home, in the workplace or in
the community. The exercises and activities you learn will focus on reducing
or overcoming your impairments. These may be as basic as dressing, bathing
and eating, or as complex as operating a computer or caring for your family.
The
speech-language pathologist works to improve your independence with communication skills and effectiveness
in getting a message across or listening to others. This may involve working
to improve your voice, speech, language, thinking skills reading or conversational
skills. It may require teaching you how to use gestures or computers to
obtain your basic skills. Another role of the speech-language pathologist
is to help you if you have difficulty with swallowing or swallow safety.
The
social worker works with you, your family and community agencies to help solve problems
that come with changes in your abilities and your need for medical care.
This may include providing information, making referrals or arranging
for continuing care. The social worker also counsels individuals, couples,
families and groups. Your assigned social worker or family counselor helps
guide you through the hospital experience from admission to discharge.
Your assigned social worker or family counselor will serve as your advocate
during your stay.
The
licensed professional counselor helps you with developing coping strategies and improving your overall
adjustment. Depending on the extent of your impairment, the counselor
will help determine the appropriate treatment for mood and/or behavioral
needs. An individualized treatment plan is developed with each patient
treated by counseling. This plan may include the utilization of stress
management techniques, pain management/education, behavior management,
and/or cognitive behavioral techniques. The counselor will provide education
and treatment to family members about patient recovery and group supportive
therapy sessions as appropriate to patients.
The
rehabilitation case manager reviews the inpatient rehabilitation initial screening prior to your admission
to the rehabilitation center. This will assure that your transition into
the program is done in an organized manner. The rehab case manager serves
as a hub to provide effective communication with insurance providers,
patients and family members.
The
chaplain provides pastoral care and counseling to help you and your family deal
with the spiritual impact of your condition. Contact your nurse to request
a visit from the chaplain.
The
respiratory therapist uses advance diagnostic and therapeutic equipment to thoroughly assess
and treat your ability to breathe. The respiratory therapist tailors a
specific rehabilitation program to fit your needs.
The
registered dietitian assures that your nutritional needs are met by creating an individualized
diet based upon your food preferences, your physical abilities and any
dietetic restrictions prescribed by your physician.
The
prosthetist/orthodist fabricates, fits and repairs adaptive devices such as artificial limbs
(prostheses) and orthopedic braces (orthoses).
The
audiologist identifies hearing problems and appropriate correction. The audiologist
deals with difficulties in both the volume and clarity of sound and may
recommend assistive devices or hearing aids.
The
vocational specialist may assist you with obtaining services to improve your employability after
your rehabilitation center stay.
Contact us today.
Inpatient Rehabilitation (337) 494-2663
Outpatient Rehabilitation (337) 494-2556