Board-certified Physiatrists

Physiatrists are medical doctors specifically trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation, a medical specialty focused on helping people regain strength, mobility and independence following a traumatic injury, illness or surgery. Their emphasis is on restoring your function by addressing musculoskeletal disorders and acute and chronic pain. At Siskin Hospital, physiatrists serve as the treatment team leader by providing overall medical and rehabilitation direction. Not every rehabilitation program, especially those in acute care hospitals and nursing homes, is directed by doctors who are specially trained to help you regain your independence and abilities.

Physician Assistants

Physician Assistants are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive healthcare services as delegated by a physician. As part of the treatment team, physician assistants take medical histories, examine and treat patients, order and interpret tests and x-rays, make diagnoses and prescribe medications.

Rehabilitation Nurses

Siskin Hospital’s rehabilitation nurses provide you specialized nursing care throughout your rehabilitation stay. They are key members of the treatment team.

Our nursing staff is made up of registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). Many of our RNs are certified rehabilitation nurses (CRRNs) through the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, which is just one reason why rehab nursing differs from acute care nursing < link to March 14, 2018 blog article on Rehab Nursing >.

The registered nurse is primarily responsible for establishing an individualized nursing plan of care and working with you to set up personal goals.

Nurses with knowledge of and experience with specific illnesses or disabilities provide care for their patients in specialized patient floors and nursing units. They work closely with the physiatrist and referring physician to manage medical issues and high-risk factors.

In addition, the nursing staff will educate you and your family to manage and cope with the illness or disability, as well as ways to prevent future complications. Special attention and programs enhance your safety and ensure safe medication administration. The nursing staff also provides the all-important support so needed during this time of recovery.

Physical Therapists

Primarily, a physical therapist works to improve your strength, endurance, flexibility, coordination and balance through evaluations and physical interventions. This promotes mobility, functional ability and quality of life following an injury or disease process while preventing secondary complications related to immobility.

Additionally, physical therapists assess the need for specialized equipment that will give you maximum mobility and independence. Physical therapists also assist with patient and caregiver education and training to assure safety in handling your limited mobility and help you understand the physical progress you might expect.

Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists work to restore your ability to carry out activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing and dressing, as well as independent living skills such as performing household responsibilities, money management, and driving.

Occupational therapists may also conduct evaluations of your homes and make recommendations for changes to improve independence. Additionally, occupational therapists will help you develop recreation and leisure skills that will quickly reintegrate you in your home and community environments.

Speech-Language Pathologists

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) provide individual treatments to

• increase communication skills such as articulation, language, fluency, voice, reading comprehension, written expression, and social communication skills
• train you in the use of adapted computers or communication devices, known as augmentative or alternative communication
• address cognition, which includes attention, processing, organization of thoughts, problem solving and memory
• evaluate and address swallowing disorders

Respiratory Therapists

Respiratory Therapists evaluate your cardiopulmonary health and oxygenation needs, develop a plan to maintain and improve healthy breathing, and, if possible, return you to independent respiration.

They administer treatments to improve oxygenation and improve your ability to participate in therapy. In tracheotomy patients, respiratory therapists care for the artificial airway to prevent infection and work to transition you to independent breathing.

Psychologists and Neuropsychologists

Siskin Hospital’s Department of Behavioral Medicine seeks to provide unparalleled behavioral care to individuals living with diverse neurologic, physical and psychological disorders across the lifespan.

Our team of neuropsychologists and rehabilitation psychologists believe that intervention and management must be individually-tailored in order for you to attain your highest level of cognitive, emotional and functional independence. Our team will collaborate with your medical providers to ensure continuity of care. Moreover, we are happy to work with employers, schools, and families to engage them to provide the needed support and accommodations. We provide:

• Neuropsychological assessment
• Counseling related to coping with chronic health conditions
• Behavioral management of chronic pain
• Memory care
• Stroke aftercare
• Pediatric assessment and intervention
• Sports concussion management

Clinical Dieticians

The Registered Dietitian works to develop your nutritional care plan based on your medical history, texture restrictions and nutritional needs. Attention is given to your religious preferences, lifestyle restrictions and personal tastes.

The Registered Dietitian:

• Assesses high nutrition-risk patients upon admission
• Identifies patients at nutritional risk by defined screening factors
• Assesses patients as needed per physician consult
• Recommends and facilitates nutrition interventions
• Monitors and evaluates nutrition therapies and reassesses needs at regular intervals
• Collaborates with other disciplines to ensure highest level of care provided
• Provides nutrition education to you and your family
• Updates nutrition policies while being involved in menu planning and analysis
• Is involved in on-going interdisciplinary performance improvement projects
• Performs meal rounds and tray assessments to ensure your satisfaction and safety

Wound Care Specialists

The Wound Care Specialists Team assesses all patients and provides needed treatment. This continuity of staff care throughout treatment allows for better comparison during the healing process. With daily treatments provided as needed, changes can be efficiently tracked and communicated to the entire treatment team.

Wound care specialists work closely with the therapy and nursing staff to appropriately meet your needs. They receive ongoing educational training to remain current with best practices for wound and ostomy care.

Siskin Hospital’s wound care specialists work hard to prevent problems by scheduling regular wound treatments, prevention interventions including positioning and working closely with the dieticians to ensure quality nutrition that can promote the healing process. Additionally, Siskin Hospital’s in-house Wheelchair Clinic is dedicated to providing proper quality support surfaces for seated positioning.
The Wound Care Specialists Team continually seeks flexibility in treatment options. Team members pride themselves on their willingness to make changes and adaptations that provide the best results. A wide-range of wound care products is available to augment healing. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy is available to all patients.

Siskin Hospital treats a full range of wound etiologies, including vascular, neuropathic, pressure injuries, buns, surgical and traumatic wounds. Patients must be appropriate for rehabilitation therapy. We provide the following services:

• A comprehensive evaluation by a wound care specialist
• A comprehensive evaluation by a Certified Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist
• Vascular Tests- Including ABI
• Nutritional consultation by a registered dietician
• Debridement- conservative sharp, mechanical, enzymatic, autolytic debridement
• Appropriate selection of dressing types and frequency of dressing changes
• Compression therapy
• Ancillary therapies- Including E-Stim and ultrasound for wound care
• Pressure mapping and seating assessments to determine equipment/position for optimal pressure relief

The Wound Care Specialists Team knows that healing a wound, like any other physical recovery, can sometimes be a lengthy process. We encourage you to remain hopeful as we work to achieve the best possible outcome.

Case Managers

A case manager is assigned when you are admitted to the Inpatient Rehabilitation Program. As the primary coordinator of care provision, case managers complete initial evaluations and assess your caregiver’s ability to assist you upon discharge from Siskin Hospital.

The case manager facilitates communication between you, your treatment team, and your caregiver(s) in regard to treatment plan, goals, availability of community resources and outcomes of care. They ensure that all medical equipment and follow-up services are arranged prior to your discharge from Siskin Hospital.

The case manager will make arrangements for you to be transferred to alternative levels of care when discharging to your home is not an option. They coordinate family training sessions and act as your advocate during your stay at Siskin Hospital.

Pastoral Care Services

Upon request, a chaplain will visit you during your stay at Siskin Hospital. These visits are dedicated to nurturing your spiritual life to experience the reality of God’s presence and love during this difficult time. Weekly and special-occasion worship services are conducted for patients and staff. The pastoral care staff acts as a liaison between patients, family members and their ministers.

The goals of the program are specific to each patient and injury, but overall are aimed at restoring, enhancing, and supporting the patient’s maximum level of independence. Through Inpatient, SubAcute, Outpatient, and Vocational Rehabilitation Programs, Siskin Hospital offers comprehensive rehabilitation at every level of treatment, from initial therapy to returning the patient to the community, school, or work.

Often, trauma patients benefit from Siskin Hospital’s wide variety of programs and services, such as the Brain Injury Treatment Program, Spinal Cord Injury Program, Amputee Program, Orthopedic Services and Wound Care Treatment.