Q. Where is the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute (JRI) located?
A. The JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute address is 65 James Street, Edison, NJ. We are conveniently located in central New Jersey, close to the Metropark Train Station. There is also an NJ Transit bus stop directly in front of JFK Medical Center. The rehabilitation admitting office phone number is 732-321-7733; the outpatient phone number is 732-321-7790. For other phone numbers and contact information for the JRI facilities, visit the Contact & Directions page.

Q. Can my family visit when I'm an inpatient?
A. Yes. Visiting is recommended. During inpatient rehabilitation, you will work with a team of individuals on your recovery. You and your family, friends, and loved ones are also very important members of the team.

Q. How is a rehabilitation hospital different from an acute care hospital?
A. In an acute care hospital, most treatment is provided at the bedside with constant monitoring and observation due to the acute medical status. As a patient at the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, you should no longer require this intensity of medical care.

As a JRI patient, you will actively participate in daily treatment sessions. As the most important part of the rehabilitation team, you will be expected to:

• attend all therapy sessions and appointments
• actively participate in your daily living activities (dressing, grooming) as much as possible
• wear comfortable street clothes with rubber-soled shoes or sneakers during the day
• encourage your family members to take an active role in your rehabilitation process and attend treatment and educational sessions when requested by members of the rehabilitation team
• participate in discharge plans

Q. How is a rehabilitation hospital different from a subacute program offered in a nursing home?
A. As an acute inpatient rehabilitation facility, JRI provides services to patients who require an inpatient level of care: 24-hour oversight by medical and nursing professionals. Patients admitted to this facility:

• are physically able to participate in a therapeutic interdisciplinary program for a minimum of three hours per day
• have the potential to make functional gains within a reasonable amount of time
• will benefit from an acute, short-term inpatient stay with definite, measurable goals

The subacute programs at long-term care facilities (nursing homes) are recommended for patients who are not physically able to participate in three hours per day of active therapy and those whose course of rehabilitation is predicted to be longer-term.

Q. When does your therapy program begin?
A. Your rehabilitation program begins at the time of your admission. The physician and rehabilitation nurse will begin the initial process of evaluation.

Within the first 24 hours and throughout the first several days of your admission, you will participate in evaluation sessions with other members of the rehabilitation team who will be working with you during your inpatient stay. The team will design a treatment program for you based on your needs, team goals and goals expressed by you and your family and loved ones.

The evaluation findings will be discussed at a Team Conference held during the first week of your admission.

Throughout the day, you will be expected to participate, as much as possible, in all your self-care activities.

Your physiatrist (doctor specializing in rehabilitation medicine) will lead the rehabilitation team assigned to your care. The team includes your nurse, nutritionist, social worker, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist (if indicated), psychologist, and other therapists and consultants as ordered by your physiatrist. Your physiatrist and rehabilitation team members will meet weekly at the Team Conference to discuss your progress and to set new goals if necessary.

Q. How do I stay informed about my rehabilitation progress?
A. After the Team Conferences, your physiatrist and other team members will: 

• discuss recommendations with you and your family member and/or significant others you have chosen to be involved
• answer your questions
• listen to any comments you may have concerning your treatment and discharge plans

These meetings, along with day-to-day conversations with your team members, will keep you informed of your progress.

Q. What is involved in discharge planning?
A. Planning for a smooth transition to home or to another facility begins early in the rehabilitation process. Your social worker and the entire rehab team will work with you to make sure that your needs are addressed. Discharge planning involves making decisions related to:

• where you will go after discharge from the Institute
• equipment you may need
• where you will receive follow-up medical care, if necessary

Q. What is the next step in the rehabilitation process after discharge?
A. It is important to remember that your stay at JRI is just the first step in the rehabilitation process. Most people continue the rehabilitation process when they are discharged to their home or to a subacute setting. Your social worker will discuss options for follow-up services, including:

• home care and home therapy
• outpatient therapy at JRI or at other facilities
• Further inpatient therapy in a subacute facility

Q. How much does it cost to stay at JRI? Do you take insurance? If so, what kind?
A. The JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute will work with your insurance company to identify what is covered and which costs, if any, you will be responsible for. You will be notified in advance of any out-of -pocket expenses.

Q. Can I take a tour of JRI?
A. Yes! Our Client Services Department will be happy to set up a tour for you and answer as many of your questions as possible. Call us at 732-321-7733 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Q. How do I get to JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute from my hospital?
A. If you are being transferred from another medical facility , your case manager or social worker will help to coordinate your transfer.

Q. What kind of therapies do you provide to patients at JRI?
A. The JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute's New Jersey facilities provide occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, social services, psychology, therapeutic recreation, and vocational counseling. Please visit our adult inpatient and outpatient services and pediatric services pages for detailed information about our therapies and services.

Q. What is a "Rehabilitation Team"?
A. Patient care at JRI is organized around a rehabilitation team. This includes the patient and his or her family members, referring physicians and rehabilitation specialists. The team approach to facilitating recovery allows us to provide comprehensive services that address the whole person, not just a disease.

Q. Do you have outpatient services?
A. Yes, we offer outpatient services in a variety of areas. Please visit our outpatient services page for detailed information.

Q. How do I make an appointment for outpatient services?
A. Please call 732-321-7790 for a directory of departments or visit the patient care page for more information.