This week is National Rehabilitation Awareness Week. This special week provides an opportunity to celebrate rehab professionals and acknowledge successful patient outcomes.
Rehab professionals help people live their best lives despite illness or injury. Occupational therapy focuses on helping patients complete their activities of daily living; physical therapy focuses on helping patients move better; and speech language pathology helps patients improve their speech and swallowing.
Cooper’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Department includes over 50 occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech language pathology professionals. The team also includes a secretary and multiple rehab aides, all of whom help the department run smoothly. Cooper’s inpatient rehab team works with patients of all ages in collaboration with the health care team to help determine the safest discharge plan and to help start the rehabilitation process. In 2022, the department received consults for over 26,000 patients for physical therapy, 15,000 patients for occupational therapy, and nearly 5,000 patients for speech language pathology.
Cooper’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Department consists of many physical, occupational, and speech therapists, as well as physical therapist assistants and rehabilitation aides who support four outpatient locations throughout the southern New Jersey region. The department is also supported by many individuals from Cooper’s Health Care Access team, who help provide comprehensive services for all patients. In addition to providing traditional rehabilitation services, some therapists are certified in specialized types of therapy, including pelvic floor, oncology (cancer rehab), lymphedema, vestibular/concussion, and bone health (osteopenia/osteoporosis). Furthermore, many of Cooper’s outpatient occupational therapists are certified hand therapists who are experts in treating injuries to the elbow, wrist, and hand.
To learn more about Cooper’s outpatient rehabilitation services, please visit the Cooper Rehabilitation Services website here.