National Rehabilitation Awareness Week: Recognizing Rehabilitation Care

This week is National Rehabilitation Awareness Week. The first ever National Rehabilitation Awareness week started in 1976, and it’s grown into a national initiative dedicated to:

Highlighting the positive impact rehabilitation has on the lives of patients
Educating others on of the benefits that rehabilitation program can provide
Recognizing everyone deserves to live their life to the fullest
Celebrating the dedicated rehabilitation professionals who change lives and trajectories every day.

What is Physical and Medical Rehabilitation?
Physical and medical rehabilitation can help us improve our abilities after an injury or illness; it can also help us progress with conditions we’re born with. It’s care that helps people regain, keep, or improve abilities needed during daily life. At Mary Free Bed, our teams work to optimize function and get back to doing what you love.

Rehabilitation Teams and the Care They Provide
Rehabilitation therapy offers a medical environment designed to help bodies recover – including regain strength, relearn skills, and finding new ways to do activities that may now be difficult. At Mary Free Bed, rehabilitation teams are personalized to work successfully in that environment and meet the needs of each individual.

Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists
Rehabilitation care teams are often comprised of three primary types of rehabilitation therapists – including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. Each type of therapy serves a unique purpose in helping patients recover, but all three work towards a shared goal of helping patients maximize their potential and regain the healthiest lifestyle possible.
Recreational Therapists
Depending on your needs and goals, you could be working with a recreational therapist who apply recreational and experiential activities to help improve health and function. Rec therapy sessions can involve Vandy, our black Labrador retriever, who is an animal assisted therapy (AAT) dog.
Respiratory Therapists
Some of our most medically-complex patients receiving inpatient care might also need support from a ventilator and our respiratory therapy team.

But our multi-disciplinary approach doesn’t stop there.

Physiatrists
Our inpatient rehabilitation teams are led by physiatrists. A physiatrist is a highly trained physician who specializes in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R).
Rehabilitation Nurses
Nurses can also specialize in helping their patients achieve optimal outcomes and adapt to altered lifestyles. At Mary Free Bed, many of our nurses are Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurses (CRRN).
Orthotics, Prosthetics + Bionics Experts
The use of orthotic and prosthetic devices can often be a fundamental, life-altering part of rehabilitation. Our coordinated team of orthopedic rehabilitation specialists uses the latest advancements to help patients safely achieve the most function and independence.
Psychology Team
Mary Free Bed’s team of rehabilitation experts don’t just help physically but emotionally. Our psychology team provides care to support mental health care needs of patients who require rehabilitation.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists
They are experts in the science of medical nutrition therapy and work with patients to customize a plan that fits their lifestyle and dietary needs.
Care Managers
Our care management team consists of social workers who advocate for patients and their families, helping them navigate their rehabilitation journey. They serve as the liaison between our patients and their treatment team, provide education about their condition, assist with financial resources and insurance companies, and coordinate follow-up therapy visits and their return home.

Celebrating our Rehabilitation Professionals
Comprehensive rehabilitation care takes an entire community of passionate experts working together to maximize outcomes and help patients life their lives to the fullest. Behind the scenes of our hospital, you’ll find a network of dedicated staff, Guild and Foundation members working to ensure their clinical colleagues and patients can achieve extraordinary outcomes – together.

National Rehabilitation Awareness Week is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the teams who work together to change lives through rehabilitation. This week, and every week, we thank the dedicated, multi-disciplinary teams everywhere working to restore hope and freedom through rehabilitation. We hope you take the opportunity to do the same!