You are urged to become an active member of your healthcare team.Your attitude, outlook and goals are important to your recovery.

Patient progress is reviewed on a routine basis by the entire rehabilitation team. Additional days may be approved, within insurance guidelines, if you are making significant progress. Patients whose insurance is limited will be informed so that they may help determine their discharge plans.

Medical Staff
You will be assigned a primary medical physician upon admission to Edwin Shaw. A physiatrist (a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation) is then consulted to direct the treatment plan for the entire rehabilitation team. Consultations with other specialties are available as needed. Most physicians at Edwin Shaw Rehab are independent contractors, not employees, and will separately bill for their services.

Nursing Staff
The rehabilitation nursing staff provides specialized nursing care, helps you practice self care skills and instructs you on your medications and healthcare issues. The staff will also coordinate your care with all departments and your needs with your physician. Over seventy percent (70%) of the Edwin Shaw Rehab nurses hold advanced certifications including: Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurses (CRRN) and/or Certified Brain Injury Specialists (CBIS) as compared to 20% nationally.

Therapy Staff
Your therapy team will include a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist and Recreational Therapist. In addition, you might see a Speech Therapist, Respiratory Therapist, Dietitian, Orthotist, and Prosthetist depending upon your individual needs.

The majority of our therapy staff hold advanced certifications including the following: Certified Brain Injury Specialists (CBIS), Neurological Development Trained Specialists (NDT), Vital Stim Certified Speech Pathologists, Certified Drivers Rehabilitation Specialists (CDRS), Certified Clinical Instructors, Lymphedema Specialists, Certified Functional Capacity Evaluations, Vestibular Competency Certified Therapists, Assistive Technology Provider (ATP), Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), and Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT Credentialed).

• A physical therapist may teach walking, stair climbing, wheelchair mobility, getting in and out of bed, exercising to strengthen body muscles and improve balance and coordination.
• An occupational therapist will guide you in the skills necessary to resume daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, toileting and cooking, homemaking and transition to the community.
• A speech pathologist focuses on swallowing, cognitive and language skills to help you communicate, think and swallow more effectively.
• A recreational therapist works with you to learn how to compensate for lost functioning or to teach you new activities to enhance your leisure time.
• A registered dietitian plans nutritional meals for you while at Edwin Shaw.
• A respiratory therapist works to evaluate, treat and care for patients who need assistance to breathe more effectively.