Rehabilitation Services

The Rehabilitation Services Department provides the highest quality of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Language Pathology services to acute care inpatients, acute rehabilitation inpatients and outpatients at Samaritan Medical Center. Patients are multicultural and include all ages in the lifespan, from neonatal to geriatrics.

As an integral part of patient care, Rehabilitation Services works closely with patients, families, staff and physicians to provide the most comprehensive, effective rehabilitative care and achieve the greatest functional outcomes for the patients. The Rehabilitation Services Department compliments all patient healthcare delivery plans of care for the promotion of quality patient care services.

Rehabilitation Services are aimed at restoring function and preventing the onset and/or slowing the progression of conditions resulting from illness, injury, disease of other causes including:

• Amputation


• Birth defects


• Burns


• Cancer


• Cardiopulmonary disorders


• Developmental delay


• Injuries related to work or sports


• Lung diseases – emphysema, asthma


• Multiple trauma


• Neurological conditions: multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, head injury, spinal cord injury


• Orthopedic conditions: back or neck injuries, sprains, strains, fractures’ joint replacements, arthritis


• Pain


• Surgical patients


• Wounds



PHYSICAL THERAPY therapeutic interventions include:

• Airway clearance techniques


• Assessment, fabrication and/or fitting of adaptive devices and equipment


• Assessment, fabrication and/or fitting of orthotics and prosthetics


• Balance and coordination training
• Electrotherapeutic modalities – ultrasound, TENS, etc.
• Ergonomic training


• Functional training


• Gait training


• Home safety evaluations


• Manual therapy techniques including mobilization and manipulation


• Neuro-muscular re-education


• Pain control


• Posture and body mechanics training


• Sensory awareness training


• Therapeutic exercises


• Transfer training


• Wheelchair assessments


• Wound and burn care

Physical Therapists
Physical Therapists (PT) are licensed healthcare professionals and must be registered in New York to practice Physical Therapy. Up until 2002, a PT earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. Beginning in 2002, all Physical Therapy education programs in the U.S. transitioned to the MPT – Master of Science in Physical Therapy. A growing number of programs are offering a doctorate degree (DPT) in anticipation that by 2020, all PTs will possess a DPT.

Physical Therapist Assistants
Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA) are healthcare professionals who work under the direction and supervision of PTs. They assist in the delivery of Physical Therapy treatment once the PT has evaluated the patient and established the plan of care. PTAs have an Associate’s Degree in Physical Therapy and must be registered in New York. Beginning in 2002, PTAs are required to pass a national certification exam in order to practice.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY therapeutic interventions include:

• Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) training–feeding dressing, grooming, toileting, bathing, and home management


• Cognitive training for problems with attention span, memory, planning, organizing, problem solving,safety awareness


• Energy conservation training


• Ergonomic assessment and training


• Functional training


• Hand therapy


• Joint protection techniques


• Providing positioning devices for increasing arm range of motion and strength


• Therapeutic exercises


• Training for behavioral problems such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder


• Training for visual and perceptual deficits

Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapists (OT or OTR/L) are licensed healthcare professionals and must be registered in New York to practice Occupational Therapy. OTs hold a minimum of a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy.

Occupational Therapist Assistants
Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA) are healthcare professionals who work under the direction and supervision of OTs. They assist in the delivery of Occupational Therapy treatment once the OT has evaluated the patient and established the plan of care. OTAs have an Associate’s Degree in Occupational Therapy and are registered in New York. OTAs have the option to take a national certification examination to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). At this time, the New York State Department of Education does not require an OTA to take this exam.

SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY interventions include:

• Cognitive training for attention, memory, problems solving


• Fitting of prosthetic or adaptive devices for communication or swallowing


• Language training in oral, written, and graphic forms;    comprehension; expression; processing; literary skills


• Sensory awareness training


• Speech training for articulation, fluency, resonance and voice


• Training in communication techniques


• Training in feeding techniques


• Training in swallowing techniques


• Videofluroscopy

Speech Language Pathologist
Speech Language Pathologists (SLP, CCC) are licensed healthcare professionals and must be registered in New York to practice Speech Language Pathology. SLPs hold a Master of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology and must earn their Clinical Competency Certification (CCC) before practicing independently.