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Rehabilitation Services

Rehabilitation Services

Helping Patients Return to Home, Work & Community Since 1984

The DCH Rehabilitation Pavilion at Northport Medical Center provides fully comprehensive rehabilitation services that aim to maximize the independence and quality of life of our community. Our services include a hospital-based inpatient rehabilitation facility with around-the-clock medical monitoring and intensive therapy services, as well as a skilled outpatient therapy program for a seamless transition of care.

Our services include:

  • Daily visits from Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician/Nurse Practitioners
  • CRRNs, RNs, LPNs and PCAs on duty 24 hours a day
  • S.W.A.T. (Subtle Warning Assessment Team) on duty 24 hours a day
  • Intensive Care (ICU) and Acute Medical Care Units
  • Onsite dialysis
  • Onsite radiology services
  • Respiratory therapists on duty 24 hours a day
  • Onsite pharmacy
  • Cardiac monitoring
  • Onsite laboratory
  • Wound care

Our Rehabilitation Programs

Body in Balance Rehabilitation

Many neurological and orthopedic conditions can cause balance problems. The DCH Rehabilitation Pavilion can address these problems through balance retraining. The primary goal of Body in Balance Rehabilitation is to assist the patient in achieving a maximal level of independence with household and community mobility with decreased risks of falling.

Our Body in Balance Rehab includes:

  • Postural control
  • Range of motion and flexibility
  • Strengthening
  • Perturbation training
  • Dynamic gait activities
  • Environmental hazards
  • Dynavision
  • Dynavision is an electronic visual tool used in therapy.

The Dynavision is an electronic visual tool that is used to help patients more quickly scan and process what they see as well as to achieve better motor skills and reaction time. It also can be used to improve overall balance and mobility. This training assists clients in reacting to the environment to perform household and community activities better.

Driving Program

Driving is an activity that many people take for granted. Physical, psychological, and/or cognitive impairments affect driving performance. Driving evaluations are performed to test the areas necessary to be a skilled, safe driver. Driving retraining is conducted to address deficits identified in these areas. Testing includes visual screening, physical assessment, brake reaction, cognitive testing (memory, attention, problem-solving), road sign evaluation and behind-the-wheel assessment with adaptive equipment, as needed. This service is provided by a certified Rehabilitation Driving Specialist.

Outpatient Rehabilitation in Tuscaloosa

Our comprehensive outpatient rehab therapy program includes physical therapy, occupational therapy and/or speech-language therapy for patients of all ages.

Individualized therapy programs may consist of one or any combination of these disciplines and is provided in one convenient location. Services are provided by a team of trained therapists experienced in rehabilitation for stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, balance disorders, amputations, fractures, joint replacements, Parkinson’s disease, other neurological and orthopedic disorders, and pediatric diagnoses.

Our primary goal is to help patients achieve their maximum level of independence with household and community mobility and to facilitate their return to work or school as needed. Our pediatric program provides comprehensive services for children from birth to age 21.

Outpatient rehabilitation offers several specialty programs:

  • Driving Program – Driving evaluations are performed by a Certified Rehab Driving Specialist to test the functions necessary to be a skilled, safe driver. These functions include vision screening, physical assessment, brace reaction, cognitive testing (memory, attention, problem-solving), road sign evaluation, and behind-the-wheel assessment with adaptive equipment.
  • Body in Balance – Many neurological and orthopedic conditions can produce balance problems that can be addressed through balance retraining. Areas addressed include postural control, range of motion and flexibility, strengthening, perturbation training, dynamic gait activities, and environmental hazards.
  • Amputee/Prosthetic Program – The amputee/prosthetic services can begin immediately following surgery and continue with training and fitting of the prosthesis. Therapists work in conjunction with the prosthetist to ensure proper fit and mobility using the prosthesis so the patient can return to many activities of their daily lives.
  • Visual Compensatory Training – Often, a person can begin having difficulty reading, writing checks, walking, dressing, bathing, cooking, driving, and other daily tasks and not realize that visual changes may play a role in this type of functional decline. Visual retraining and the teaching of compensatory strategies help clients see and perceive their environment, thereby helping them better complete routine tasks.
  • Dysphagia Program – Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) can be evaluated to determine the type, extent, and severity of the disorder. Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Evaluations can be performed with a radiologist and a speech therapist to help guide treatment and diet. VitalStim, a form of non-invasive electrical stimulation, can be used for the safe and effective treatment of swallowing disorders.
  • Cognitive Therapy – Many people with cognitive and/or memory deficits may benefit from individualized cognitive therapy to assist them with the ability to problem-solve, reason, and judge.