Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Guide

Our inpatient rehabilitation guide provides more information regarding your stay, including what to wear, meals and more. 

Arriving at inpatient rehabilitation

During your first few days, our interdisciplinary team will evaluate your condition, discuss your goals and create a plan. Your care team will then talk to you about our recommendations, including their estimate for how long you need to stay to regain function and accomplish your goals, and plans for your discharge. Your length of stay may vary, but our average length of stay is 7 to 10 days.

Inpatient rehabilitation rooms

Patients requiring isolation because of their medical condition are assigned a private room. We try to accommodate other requests for private rooms when we can, based on room availability.

Daily inpatient rehabilitation routine

Therapy is available 7 days a week. We expect you to participate in 3 hours of combined therapy for 5 out of 7 days a week, or a minimum of 15 hours per week.

What to wear for inpatient rehabilitation

Our goal is to help you achieve independence as soon as possible. Part of that work includes getting dressed every day. In addition to personal hygiene products, you should bring the following clothes: comfortable clothes, such as jogging suits or loose-fitting pants (5 sets), robe, pajamas, undergarments (5 sets), regular or athletic shoes, jacket or sweater. Make arrangements with family members or support people to have your clothes washed at home.

Meals

We offer menus with a variety of items for breakfast, lunch and dinner—including meals designed to meet physician-prescribed diets for patients with diabetes, cardiac or kidney problems.

At each location, your family or visitors may purchase food at the hospital cafeteria or one of the surrounding restaurants and eat with you.

You should consult with your nurse or doctor before eating food brought from home or by your visitors—especially if you have swallowing problems. If so, you may need specially prepared food and may need to follow special swallowing techniques. If you have special nutritional needs, you might get a visit from a dietitian or get asked to attend a nutrition class.

Visiting hours

Visiting hours and rules can change often. Exceptions to these hours are made for immediate family members. We ask that therapy sessions not be interrupted by visitors. Minimum visiting age is 12 years old. Children visiting patients must be supervised at all times. For everyone’s safety, visitors are restricted from entering the gym with the exception of pre-scheduled family instruction sessions.

Dialysis and radiation

All of our locations accommodate dialysis on-site, and some locations offer radiation therapy.

Preparing for discharge

Our goal is for every patient to return home. We work closely with you and your family to determine how to accomplish that. We have a proven track record of success with sending patients home. But we also must keep your safety in mind, and we may recommend that some patients go to a nursing home or assisted living. In that instance, one of our case managers or social workers will help to make the arrangements.

Before you’re discharged, the rehabilitation physician and therapy team will determine what outpatient services you may need. Depending on the services, you may need to get them at home or at a center such as our outpatient program. The decision is based on your needs, preferences and insurance coverage.

Rehabilitation equipment for home

Before leaving, you will receive information and assistance on getting recommended medical equipment for your home—items such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, walking aids, special bathtub seats or shower chairs. Your care team will guide you and answer your questions.