Medically Complex Rehabilitation

Our experienced rehabilitation teams treat patients recovering from a wide range of medically complex conditions, such as:

• Cancer
• Post-surgical care for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair and other cardiovascular procedures
• Fatigue from cardiac conditions such as congestive heart failure (CHF) and myocardial infarction (MI)
• Frailty from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema and asthma
• COVID-19

Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation draws on the expertise of medical rehabilitation specialists to address the range of physical and functional issues that occur from medically complex conditions.

This interdisciplinary team is led by a physiatrist, a physician board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and includes rehabilitation nurses; physical, occupational and speech therapists; dietitians; case managers and other clinical and support staff as needed.

In addition, family members are an important part of the care team. They may be asked to participate in therapy sessions to understand and support your needs.

Every patient is different with varied challenges, goals and expectations. Treatment will be tailored to your individual needs to help:

• Restore physical abilities
• Build strength and endurance
• Improve balance, coordination and mobility
• Enhance skills to perform daily activities
• Optimize independence

Physiatrists, who are board-certified physicians in physical medicine and rehabilitation, will direct your overall medical care. A neurologist, internist, urologist or other medical specialist may also be involved in your treatment as needed.

Rehabilitation nurses who are on duty 24 hours a day to assist you with medications, self-care, and help reinforce techniques learned in therapy sessions. Specially trained rehabilitation assistants will also contribute to your care and comfort.

Occupational therapists will help you regain the skills and strategies needed to perform daily activities, such as dressing, grooming, eating and more. They will also assess the need for assistive equipment and help resolve any visual or cognitive issues you may have.

Speech-language pathologists will work with you to improve language, cognition and communication skills, as well as swallowing deficits.

Respiratory therapists will help you with breathing issues, particularly among those individuals who are ventilator dependent.

Recreation therapists will help you to relearn or teach adaptive skills that will enable you to pursue a wide range of leisure activities, such as arts and crafts, gardening and sports.

Psychologists and neuropsychologists offer individual, group and family counseling to help you understand and cope with the many changes you will experience both during rehabilitation and after discharge.

Case managers will coordinate your discharge, helping to plan for the appropriate destination, continued medical and rehabilitation services and equipment, as well as sharing any community and other resources that may be available to you.

Pharmacists will work closely with you, your physician, nurses and therapists to ensure that your medication needs are met.

Dietitians will provide a nutritional plan designed to help regain your strength. This may include the need for any supplements or texture modifications as well as vegetarian, kosher or other special dietary needs.