Adding Quality to Life
The Center for Rehabilitation Medicine at Northridge Hospital Medical Center is a full-service, comprehensive rehabilitation program suited to treat patients of all ages who have suffered catastrophic or debilitating injury or illness. The goal of our rehabilitation program is to deliver exceptional patient care to maximize each individual's skills and independence. For inpatient services call (818) 700-5648, and for outpatient services call (818) 885-5334.
The Center, which opened in 1974, offers treatment for all major disabling conditions including spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, multiple trauma, burns, neurological disorders, arthritis, and orthopedic problems. Since Northridge Hospital is a designated Trauma Center, we often treat rehabilitation patients from the point of injury.
Special programs for spinal cord injury, brain injury, and multiple trauma are offered by the Center. The holistic approach of treating patients within the context of family and community best enables them to resume as normal a life as possible.
Family members and significant others receive extensive education and training and are encouraged to observe and participate in treatment. Support is also provided by WYNGS, an organization dedicated to addressing the immediate needs of people with spinal cord injury, providing emotional support, information and resources to ease financial burdens.
Accreditation
The Joint Commission (TJC) accredits the Center for Rehabilitation Medicine. The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) also gave accreditation for Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injury System of Care, and Brain Injury Programs.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback uses instrumentation to mirror psycho-physio-logical processes, which an individual is not normally aware of and which may be controlled. It helps people with tension or migraine headaches, chronic pain, hypertension, insomnia, incontinence, vocal dysfunction, or other disorders. Biofeedback includes stress management by teaching the individual relaxation skills, helps improve body awareness, and also provides training in muscle re-education. For information, please call (818) 885-5334.
Communication Disorders
The Communication Disorders Department (also known as Speech Therapy) provides diagnostic and therapeutic services for adults with speech, language, cognitive, hearing, and swallowing disorders. These services are coordinated with the physician, patient, family, school, and community agencies. For information, please call (818) 885-5334.
Driver Preparation Program
This program provides comprehensive evaluation and training to individuals with physical, cognitive and/or perceptual disorders which may interfere with their ability to drive safely. After an evaluation by an occupational therapist and a certified driving instructor, patients are trained to work with or compensate for their disabilities. Car and van evaluations are both available. Need for adaptive equipment is based upon evaluation, and assistance is provided to obtain all necessary adaptive equipment. For information, please call (818) 885-5460.
Hand Rehabilitation
The hand rehabilitation program is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program for individuals with upper extremity injuries and dysfunction. An individualized treatment plan is designed for each patient based on evaluation by an occupational or physical therapist with specialized training in hand rehabilitation. A full continuum of services which emphasize previous lifestyle is available from acute onset of injury through return-to-work. For information, please call (818) 885-5334.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy uses meaningful, functional activities to assist patients in becoming as independent as possible in self-care and other daily activities. Assessment of the home environment is done as needed. For information, please call (818) 885-5460.
Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy restores maximum function through increasing mobility and strength and decreasing pain. Treatment may include: gait training; wheelchair skills; therapeutic exercise; muscle re-education; mobility training; pool therapy, and other appropriate treatment techniques. For information, please call (818) 885-5334.
Pet Therapy Program
The pet therapy program provides inpatients with a special opportunity to interact with trained animals (dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs) to create a more natural and nurturing environment. Abilities not seen in structured therapy may become evident while interacting with the animals. The program promotes progress in areas of communication, cognition, activities of daily living, mobility, and emotions.
Psychology
Psychological services, both inpatient and outpatient, provide assessment, support and counseling to patients and their families in order to help them adjust to the disability and stress that result from changes in the patient/family relationship. In addition to psychotherapeutic and counseling services offered, a full array of neuro-psychological tests are available, to establish standardized data about cognitive deficits. For information, please call (818) 885-5334.
Rehabilitation Physicians
The physiatrist provides overall supervision of the medical and rehabilitative care of all inpatients and is on-call 24-hours-a-day. Physiatrists specialize in the area of rehabilitative medicine. Continued medical follow-up is provided by appointment on an outpatient basis. For information, please call (818) 885-5342.
Rehabilitation Nursing
Rehabilitation nursing assesses and educates patients and their families about required medical and personal care. In addition to providing 24-hour nursing care and integrating multidisciplinary therapy techniques, inpatient rehabilitation nurses help prepare patients and their families for discharge through comprehensive education and training with necessary supplies.
Return To Work Program
This is an interdisciplinary program, which combines the skills of occupational and physical therapists that are trained in the rehabilitation of repetitive motion disorders and soft tissue and orthopedic problems of the spine and extremities.
The primary focus is to assess the patient's level of functional independence as it relates to vocational goals, and to facilitate readiness to resume previous levels of independence. Services include functional capacity evaluation, work hardening, and on-site job analysis. For information, please call (818) 885-5334.
Social Services
Social Services help patients and their families cope with the stresses of disability through psychosocial counseling, support groups, discharge planning, and information about community resources. Support groups include Brain Injury, Stroke, Chronic Pain, and Chronic Pain Family and Friends. For information, please call (818) 885-5334.
To support our patients we invite you to visit the T.G.I. Guild web page or to call (818) 885-5330.
