Inpatient Physical Therapy Services

We strive to deliver physical therapy of the highest order and set the standard for inpatient care by cultivating an engaging environment, promoting education, and participating in research.

What is the role of inpatient physical therapy?

Physical therapy care can be initiated soon after hospital admission, including as soon as a few hours after surgery or during the first few days of hospital admission depending on medical stability. Physical therapy intervention begins with a comprehensive evaluation to identify functional deficits and includes the development of an individualized care plan to address those while hospitalized.

Our physical therapists are members of the interdisciplinary team and assist with initiating the discharge planning process. They will help to create and facilitate a safe and appropriate discharge plan based on each patient’s current functional needs and the level of care available at home for when a patient is medically ready to leave the hospital. These discharge plans may include equipment needs as well as recommendations for ongoing therapy.

Why is physical therapy important while in the hospital?

While hospitalized, it is important to stay active to promote healing as quickly as possible and to help prevent complications. Our therapists are dedicated to maximizing each patient's functional potential to achieve individualized goals.

Benefits of Inpatient Physical Therapy:

• Comprehensive evaluation of current mobility and functional deficits
• Individualized treatment plans
• Improve strength, range of motion, pain, balance, and endurance
• Mobility training (moving in bed, getting in/out of bed, walking, stairs)
• Patient, family, and caregiver education
• Facilitate early mobilization to reduce risk of muscle atrophy, pressure related injuries, and cardiopulmonary deconditioning
• Promote functional independence
• Provide recommendations for safe mobility while in the hospital
• Assist in maximizing quality of life
• Promote gross motor skill development
• And many more!

Who will benefit from therapy services in the hospital?

Patients who have an illness or injury that has significantly changed their ability to move around or take care of themselves may need physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy during an acute care hospital stay.  We work with people at all stages of life and across the continuum of care. Not everyone who is admitted to the hospital requires physical therapy services.

The goals of physical therapy are to identify functional deficits, develop a treatment plan for care while hospitalized, and make recommendations for continued therapy after discharge from the hospital. The frequency with which patients are seen for therapy services will vary depending on physical or functional needs.

What are the discharge planning options?

After the initial evaluation a physical therapist will make a discharge recommendation based on a patients functional needs. This recommendation will be shared with the interdisciplinary team to help create a safe and patient centered discharge plan. There are several options that may be recommended as discharge from the hospital.

• Home (patient’s or a caregiver’s home): Home care or outpatient therapy services may be recommended if additional therapy is needed at home. Patients need to be considered homebound in most cases to receive skilled home care services.
• Skilled nursing facility rehabilitation: Short term rehabilitation and nursing care at a nursing home with the goal of returning home upon completion of rehab.
• Inpatient rehabilitation: This setting is recommended for patients that require intensive therapy and medical care. Patients must be able to tolerate three hours of therapy a day (physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy combined).

Skilled nursing and inpatient rehabilitation stays are recommended when the care required cannot be met by a caregiver at home. Insurance providers may need to authorize that this level of care is required prior to hospital discharge. Our physical therapists are happy to answer any questions about discharge recommendations.

Inpatient Physical Therapy Team

Inpatient Leadership Team

• Spencer Strowe, Chief of Inpatient Physical Therapy
• Joe Crumlish, Senior Physical Therapist
• Brooke Fontana, Senior Physical Therapist
• Kris Lohr, Senior Physical Therapist
• Carrie Norberg, Senior Physical Therapist
• Cindy Thieleman, Senior Physical Therapist
• Tracy Hardes, Senior Physical Therapist Assistant

Inpatient Acute Care Team

Acute Rehabilitation Team

• Anna Arrington
• Alyssa Kurth
• Toby Nobiling
• Tim O’Connor
• Megan Payne
• Lauren Weichman