Select from the following areas:

• Regional Rehabilitation
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech/Language Pathology
• Regional Sports Care
• Neurological Rehabilitation
• Work Injury Prevention and Management
• Pediatric Program
• Hand Rehabilitation
• Amputee Clinic
• Dysphagia Program
• Voice Program
• Student Internship Program
• Scheduling & Billing Information for Regional Rehabilitation
  
  

Regional Rehabilitation of Athens Regional Medical Center is committed to helping each person reach the highest level of independence after injury or disability. To gain optimal independence, we believe in active participation from the patient, family and our staff. This team approach may include the Physician, the Occupational Therapist, the Speech Pathologist, the Physical Therapist, the Nurse and the Social Worker.

The Physical Therapy Department promotes optimum health by preventing, identifying, correcting and alleviating movement dysfunctions and physically limiting problems. The Physical Therapist works with the physician to determine the patient's needs, to establish objectives and treatment goals and to develop the best method of treatment. An individualized treatment plan is designed to allow the highest level of independence and function.

The Physical Therapist performs a variety of tests and measurements to assess the patient's functional ability and to determine the method of treatment.

Most programs and treatment specialties are offered on an inpatient and outpatient basis. These include sports medicine, neurological rehabilitation, orthopedics, pediatrics, back/neck rehab, burn and wound care and functional capacity evaluations. An amputee clinic is offered for outpatients and an industrial rehabilitation program is offered for area business and industry.

The Physical Therapy staff includes licensed therapists and assistants, athletic trainers and case managers.

The Physical Therapy staff have Bachelor or Master's Degrees from accredited universities. Highly skilled in their area of specialty, these individuals are licensed in the State of Georgia and are committed to continuing their education and skill development.

For further assistance, call 475-3511.

For individuals whose lives have been disrupted by a physical injury, illness, development delays or the aging process, Occupational Therapy may be needed. "Occupation" refers to those purposeful day-to-day activities, such as self-care, family responsibilities, work and leisure activities. The Occupational Therapist assesses an individual's abilities and limitations in performing these daily activities and works with the patient and family to help the individual achieve the highest level of function possible.

Athens Regional Medical Center specializes in the treatment of acute hand injuries, dysphagia, repetitive motion injuries, arthritis, low vision and neurological rehabilitation of strokes and head injuries. Services offered includes multidiscipline functional capacity evaluations, Greenleaf impairment assessments, cognitive, neuromuscular re-education, compensatory training, low vision evaluation and treatment, driving preassessments, pediatric rehab including sensory integrative treatment, and pediatric feeding.

In providing quality care, the Occupational Therapists are graduates of accredited universities, licensed by the State of Georgia and participate in continuing education to enhance their skills.

The department is open Monday through Friday to provide services to inpatients and outpatients by appointment.

For further information, call Regional Rehabilitation at 475-3511.

The Speech/Language Pathology Department of Athens Regional Medical Center provides complete diagnostic and therapy services for adults and children who demonstrate communication disorders. Problems in communicating, no matter how small, can affect an individual's intellectual, emotional or social growth. Our goal is to help the individual obtain the highest level of communication possible.

Programs are offered on an inpatient and an outpatient basis. These include speech and language development for children, stroke and head injury rehabilitation, laryngectomy rehabilitation, cognitive re-training, voice, dysphagia and stuttering therapy.

Our highly qualified staff have masters degrees in speech pathology, Georgia state license and have received Certificates of Clinical Competence issued by the American Speech/Language Hearing Association.

The department is open Monday through Friday. For further information, call 475-3511.

Regional Sports Care consists of a team of medical specialists brought together to address the unique needs of active people. Regional Sports Care integrates health care with education and community outreach. Our staff of Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Athletic Trainers specialize in the prevention, assessment, comprehensive rehabilitation treatment for orthopedic and athletic injury. Emphasis is placed both on those that are injured during athletics and injuries that prevent the participation in athletic activity.

The Neurological Rehabilitation Program at Athens Regional Medical Center utilizes a team approach to help patients reach their maximum potential in work, self-care/home, leisure and community activities. Patients may come to use with any number of conditions related to the nervous system such as cerebrovascular accident or stroke, acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barre' Syndrome. Our patients are usually admitted to the program following discharge from an inpatient rehabilitation, acute care hospital or home health care. Each patient is evaluated by all appropriate team members on their first visit to our facility to determine the most appropriate plan of treatment and to insure a smooth transition into outpatient care. Our team consists of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Pathology, Case Management, Social Services and Vocational Rehabilitation, as well as, the Neurologists, Neuropsychologists, Physiatrists, and other Physicians who refer to our program.

Our focus is on designing individualized treatment plans based on the goals of each patient. Family involvement is encouraged and is central in achieving positive outcomes in rehabilitation. By using a holistic approach, we have been successful in addressing the physical and emotional needs of our patients, enabling them to lead healthier, more productive lives.

If you have any questions about the neurological rehabilitation program, please call 475-3511 for more information.

Returning an injured worker to the job can be a challenging and frustrating experience for the worker, employer, medical community, insurance company, and attorney. Regional Rehabilitation of Athens Regional Medical Center offers a comprehensive work injury prevention and management program. An interdisciplinary team of Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Athletics Trainers, and a Nurse Case Manager focus on effective work injury management and prevention of recurrence through the following services:

The Pediatric Program at Athens Regional Medical Center was established in 1988 to serve the special needs of children birth to 18 years of age. The Pediatric Team, comprised of Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapists, have specialized skills in identifying and treating problem areas in a child's development. These areas may stem from Prematurity, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Down's Syndrome, Seizure Disorders, Head Injury or other conditions which affect a child's development The specially trained staff works diligently with the young patients and their parents to achieve each child's maximum potential. When the child's problems are identified early, their chances for accomplishing their goals are great!

Our services have been successful in meeting the needs of the children involved in therapy, as well as, family needs. Some of the comprehensive services offered include Developmental Therapy, Sensory Integration, Family/Parent Education, Feeding Programs, Developmental Screens, Aquatic Therapy and Seating and Positioning.

Hand rehabilitation has been a speciality program at Athens Regional Medical Center's Occupational Therapy Department since 1981. The Occupational Therapists have extensive training in the care and management of upper extremity problems. They play a primary role in the treatment of tendon and nerve injuries, fractures, crush injuries, cumulative trauma/repetitive strain injuries, complex regional pain syndrome (RSD), burns, joint replacements and amputations. The Greenleaf Evaluation System and multidiscipline Functional Capacity Evaluations are available for those in need of an objective determination of function.

The Occupational Therapists work closely with the referring physician emphasizing the need for team work with the patient, therapist, workplace and insurers. Our goal is to teach the individual to manage their injury while facilitating their return to highest level of function as possible. Through close communication with the physician and workplace, early return to work is facilitated.

Please call our hand therapists if you have any questions regarding the program at 475-3511.

The Amputee Clinic is held in the Athens Regional Medical Center Regional Rehabilitation Department the second Wednesday of each month.

Any person can be referred to the clinic by a Physician, Physical Therapist, Nurse, Social Worker, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, the patient themselves or other individuals involved in their care.

Each person referred to the clinic will be evaluated by members of the Amputee Clinic Team. This team of professionals includes Orthopedic Physicians, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Prosthetists, a Social Worker and a Vocational Rehabilitation Representative.

Adult Program

Statistics reveal that as many as 30 percent of patients admitted to a general acute care hospital may encounter swallowing difficulty. At Athens Regional Medical Center, an interdisciplinary team of health care professional effectively diagnose and treat swallowing disorders. The team consists of Physicians, Radiologists, Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses and Dieticians. These specially trained individuals utilize diagnostic and treatment procedures, such as Videofluoroscopy Swallowing Study (Modified Barium Swallow), Prefeeding Examination, compensatory and stimulation techniques, and specialized diets for inpatients and outpatients.

Pediatric Feeding Program

Some children have difficulty feeding or swallowing while breast feeding, bottle feeding, spoon feeding or self-feeding. These children may not be able to eat age appropriate textures or types of food. At Athens Regional Medical Center, a Pediatric Feeding Team consisting of an Occupational Therapist and Speech/Language Pathologist provides a comprehensive evaluation to identify barriers which interfere with the child's age appropriate feeding skills.

After the evaluation is completed, parent education and a home program are provided. Recommendations are made regarding a treatment program and follow-up medical care if needed.

For further information, contact Regional Rehabilitation at 475-3511.

There are a variety of causes of voice problems, but one of the most common seen by a Speech/Language Pathologist is vocal hoarseness. Hoarseness can be caused by many different factors. The most frequent cause of hoarseness is the common cold with laryngitis. However, many other conditions may be the culprit including upper respiratory infections, allergies, reflux, chronic vocal abuse or misuse and growths on the vocal folds such as nodules.

Regional Rehabilitation at Athens Regional Medical Center provides clinical internships for students currently enrolled in related clinical programs.

Athens Regional Medical Center is affiliated with Emory University, Georgia State University, Gwinnett Technical Institute, North Georgia College and University, Colorado State, Armstrong Atlantic University, Mt. St. Aloysius, Western Carolina, Medical University of South Carolina, Athens Technical Institute, Washington University, Medical College of Georgia, University of Georgia and Brenau.

The students receive an excellent opportunity to learn form Athens Regional Medical Center's diversified staff where varied areas of expertise are represented. Athens Regional's broad scope of services affords the student exposure to a wide range of clinical experiences as well as the opportunity to interact with other members of the Rehabilitation team.

In addition, a volunteer program is available for students interested in pursuing a career in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy or Speech Language Pathology. Experiences are provided whereby the students can explore their areas of interest, make informed decisions and gain the required hours of experience.

Call Regional Rehabilitation at 475-3511 for further information.

All of the comprehensive rehabilitation services provided for inpatients are available on an outpatient basis at Athens Regional Medical Center for those who need physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech/language pathology.

Referrals are accepted from any Georgia licensed physician. To schedule your first appointment, call Regional Rehabilitation at 475-3511.

Parking is available for your convenience in the Prince Avenue parking lot or the parking deck. Handicapped parking is also available in both areas.

The first time you come to your scheduled appointment, you should report to approximately 15 minutes early. This will allow time to gather needed information. Please bring your insurance card, prescription/referral form and any other forms that may be helpful.

The billing process for all treatments, outpatient and inpatient, is done by computer in the business office. If you have questions concerning your bill or need financial assistance, contact the business office at 354-3520.