Adult Outpatient The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Adult Outpatient Programs and Services

The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - using an interdisciplinary approach to manage acute musculoskeletal problems and help patients with any disability maximize their functional independence - serves as the core for the services offered through the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute. The department provides both inpatient and outpatient services, as well as consultative and outreach programs at regional medical centers, long-term care facilities and other health-related settings throughout the county.

Certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and members of the American Congress of Rehabilitation and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Institute's 18 physiatrists - physicians specializing in the practice of physical medicine and rehabilitation - work closely with rehabilitation nurses, speech pathologists, audiologists, social workers, psychologists and physical, occupational and recreation therapists in coordinating individual treatment plans.

In general, physical medicine and rehabilitation - also known as physiatry - provides integrated care in the treatment of all neurologic and musculoskeletal disabilities from traumatic brain injury to lower back pain. This specialty focuses on the restoration of function to people with problems ranging from simple physical mobility issues to those with complex cognitive involvement.

The physiatrist focuses on restoring function and cares for patients with acute and chronic pain, as well as musculoskeletal problems, like back and neck pain, tendonitis, pinched nerves and fibromyalgia. They also treat people who have experienced catastrophic events resulting in paraplegia, quadriplegia or traumatic brain injury; and individuals who have had strokes, orthopedic injuries or neurologic disorders, such as multiple sclerosis or polio.

Appointments to see physiatrists at the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute are available on an outpatient basis during the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information about the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation or services offered by our physiatrists, call (732) 321-7070.