Rehabilitation medicine refers to the process of restoring physical or mental abilities that have lost function due to injury or disease. The multidisciplinary team of physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health each have distinct expertise and collaborate to provide the best possible treatment plan for each patient. We also provide pediatric rehabilitation services.
The team of rehabilitation specialists at South Brooklyn Health provides post-operative care, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language services, and rehabilitation assistance for a wide range of communication disorders. Our outpatient program provides treatment for patients with disabilities resulting from:
- Amputation
- Arthritis
- Debility or Physical Weakness
- Hip and Knee Replacement
- Musculoskeletal Problem
- Neurological Disease
- Severe Fracture
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Stroke
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
The rehabilitation outpatient service also offers a full range of specialized services and programs, including:
- Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies that test for nerve and muscle injuries
- Orthotic and brace clinic
- Prosthetic (artificial limb) clinic
- Cybex evaluation and therapy (muscle strength testing)
- Osteoporosis (bone disease) therapy
- Robotic arm treatment
- Neuromuscular taping
- Hand therapy and splint shop
- Wheelchair evaluation
- Audiology (hearing tests) evaluation
- Speech-language and communication disorder treatment
The entire staff of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at South Brooklyn Health is dedicated to providing the highest quality care to our patients with sound judgment and sensitivity to healthcare costs and the changing healthcare environment.
Our mission is to deliver care through a team approach that meets the physical, emotional, and psycho-social needs of the patient. We educate and involve our patients and their families in developing goals and treatment plans and provide the atmosphere that supports the accomplishment of those goals. We consistently reevaluate our efforts, with input from patients and staff, to ensure ongoing improvement. Together, we help patients reach maximal function and independence and facilitate their reintegration into the community.
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
The speech-language pathologists and audiologists at NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health provide comprehensive services to children and adults with a wide variety of communication disorders, swallowing disorders, and hearing loss. All programs are administered according to the Preferred Practice Guidelines of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Speech-Language Pathology
Our approach is to maximize functional communication and swallowing ability in a therapeutic environment at our speech pathology clinic. We provide individualized evaluations and treatments, instrumental swallowing assessments, including modified barium swallow study and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, home treatment programs, and referrals to other specialties as needed.
Our New York State (NYS)-licensed, and ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists provide evaluations and therapy for patients with the following communication and swallowing disorders:
- Language (Aphasia, Cognitive Language Disorder)
- Speech (Dysarthria, Apraxia of Speech)
- Swallowing (Dysphagia)
- Voice (Aphonia, Dysphonia, Vocal Cord Dysfunction)
- Fluency (Stuttering, Cluttering)
South Brooklyn Health is also home to a multidisciplinary Clinical Dysphagia Program designed to improve patients’ oral food management and swallowing skills to meet and maintain adequate nutrition and hydration.
Audiology
At South Brooklyn Health, NYS-licensed, and ASHA-certified audiologists perform Complete Audiological Evaluations (CAEs) and diagnostic procedures, including air conduction, bone conduction, tympanometry, acoustic reflex testing, and Otoacoustic Emission (OAE) testing to determine type, degree, and configuration of hearing loss as well as middle ear function. Evaluations can be performed on pediatric and adult patients with suspected hearing loss, chronic middle ear pathology, excessive noise exposure, and speech and language delay, as well as patients receiving ototoxic medications (pre/post-treatment).
Educational information regarding speech, language, and hearing disorders and dysphagia is available through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) website (www.asha.org).
Appointments and Office Information
To schedule a speech pathology appointment, patients require an exam and referral from an in-house rehabilitation medicine physiatrist. Additionally, patients with voice disorders require an Ear Nose Throat (ENT) physician examination and referral prior to voice evaluation by a speech-language pathologist at South Brooklyn Health. Referrals to audiology must be made by an in-house primary care physician or ENT physician.
Please feel free to call with any questions. We will help and/or referral information.
Communication Disorders (add ’l info found under Medical Specialties)
The team at the Division of Communication Disorders at NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health identify, evaluate, and provide therapy to infants, children, adolescents, and adults with a wide variety of communication disorders and dysphagia, an oral food management and swallowing disorder.
We maximize all aspects of communication, hearing, and eating, and provide ongoing patient and family education, including home programs to help maintain function, understanding, and adjustment to treatment. Our speech-language pathologists are licensed by the NY State Education Department and certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). They provide complete audiology assessments as well as speech-language therapy for the following problems:
- Speech delay (articulation)
- Language delay
- Fluency/stuttering
- Voice/dysphonia (vocal cord problems, such as hoarseness)
- Electronic larynx training
- Aphasia/stroke (loss of ability to speak or understand language)
- Dysarthria/stroke (slurred speech)
- Neurological disorders
- Dysphagia/developmental (difficulty swallowing)
- CVA (Cerebrovascular accident), impaired blood flow to the brain, stroke
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists help clients of all ages improve participation in daily activities through rehabilitative, restorative, adaptive, and compensatory strategies that promote independence after injury or illness or challenges associated with disability. We provide evidence-based interventions with an emphasis on patient-focused goals in both inpatient and outpatient settings so that patients can live functional, independent lives and do the things they want and need to do.
Our facility is equipped with cutting-edge treatment technology, including the ReoGo robotic system for upper limb therapy.
Our therapists are certified in the use of multiple modalities and therapy, including:
- Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) & Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
- Upper extremity rehabilitation
- Therapy for fractures, tendon injuries, shoulder injuries, and repetitive stress injuries
- Cognitive rehabilitation
- Neurological therapy, including for patients who suffer from cerebrovascular accident (CVA), transient ischemic attack (TIA), and Parkinson’s Disease
- Neuromuscular taping / Kinesio taping for pain relief and injury prevention
- Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)
- Splinting
- Scar management
- Back-In-The-Saddle (BITS) training
- Lymphedema management, edema management
- Fall prevention
- Joint protection education and strategies
- Wheelchair evaluation and ergonomics
- Adaptive equipment evaluations (shower/tub chair, wheelchairs, raised toilet seats, safety tub wall bars, commodes)
Physical Therapy
The Physical Therapy Division at South Brooklyn Health provides comprehensive services to adolescents and adults at the Arie Feibel, M.D., Center for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Our highly trained, expert physical therapy team provides services to our inpatient and outpatient populations who have impairments of function due to, but not limited to:
- Cerebral Vascular Accidents (CVA)
- Neurosurgical Impairments
- Fractures
- Total Knee and Hip Replacements
- Arthritic Conditions
- Neurological Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Impairments
- Cardiac and Pulmonary Disorders
- Lower Extremity Amputations
- Post-surgical Debilities
Our therapists provide systematic and objective treatment through functional strength training, cardiovascular conditioning, and motor control. We tailor our treatment programs to individual needs and continuously communicate with patients and family members to ensure that educational and physical needs are being met.
We use state-of-the-art exercise equipment, treatment modalities, and therapeutic techniques to improve flexibility, muscle strength, range of motion, joint stability, balance, and coordination. Some of our innovative modalities include:
- Bioness Integrated Therapy System: Evaluates and improves function in individuals with disabilities resulting from traumatic injuries and movement disorders through visual-motor programs.
- Biodex Balance System: Measures the static and dynamic limits of stability and screens for fall risk.
- Cold laser, iontophoresis therapy, and neuromuscular taping: Encourage blood flow, decrease inflammation, and reduce pain.
We ensure that our patients receive high-quality care through ongoing training and professional development. Our therapists participate in evidence-based in-service training and seminars that have immediate clinical applications. We also host a clinical training program for student interns from ten accredited universities.
The physical therapy environment at South Brooklyn Health is one where movement matters and where therapists partner with patients to help them meet their goals. Patients are active participants in their own recoveries and greatly improve their mobility, independence, and quality of life, through their work with our team of experts.
We welcome visitors to tour the physical therapy department and meet our dynamic team of rehabilitation professionals, who are committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive care to the communities we serve in southern Brooklyn.
For more information on our Rehabilitation Department, or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please call: 1-844-692-4692.