Rehabilitation Services

The Tampa General Rehabilitation Center is a 59-bed facility located on the campus of Tampa General Hospital. It has earned accreditation (three-year) by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in the following 12 areas:

• Adult Brain Injury Inpatient Rehabilitation Program
• Inpatient Brain Injury - Pediatric Specialty Program
• Adult Brain Injury Outpatient Rehabilitation Program
• Outpatient Brain Injury - Pediatric Specialty Program
• Adult Inpatient Rehabilitation Program
• Inpatient Rehabilitation - Pediatric Specialty Program
• Adult Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Program - Outpatient
• Adult Spinal Cord System of Care
• Spinal Cord System of Care - Pediatric Specialty Program
• Adult Inpatient Rehabilitation Program - Stroke Specialty Program
• Adult Outpatient Rehabilitation Program - Stroke Specialty Program

The Tampa General Rehabilitation Center is also acredited by the Joint Commission and is designated as a State of Florida Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Center for both adult and pediatric patients.

Inpatient Programs
Outpatient Services
Pediatric Services

We invite you to tour Tampa General Hospital's Rehabilitation Center. Please call (813) 844-4172 to arrange a convenient time to visit our facility.

A Continuum of Care

 Rehabilitation spans the full medical continuum, with services provided in the intensive care unit and continued through an individual’s return to home and the community. 

A Team Approach

A fully integrated team approach to therapy helps patients achieve their full potential.  Patients, family members, nurses, case managers and physicians, work together with therapy staff to develop goals, monitor progress and meet the challenges of tomorrow.  Our programs emphasize outcome based treatment plans, interdisciplinary care conferencing, hands-on family involvement and problem-focused goals.  Our rehabilitation team consists of:

• Biofeedback Therapists
  
• Care Coordinators
  
• Occupational Therapists
  
• Orthotists/Prosthetists
  
• Physical Therapists
  
• Psychologists/Neuropsychologists
  
• Recreational Therapists
  
• Rehabilitation Nurses
  
• Social Workers
  
• Speech Language Pathologists/Audiologists

Additional team members include: Pastoral Care, Pharmacy, Respiratory Therapy, Nutritional Specialist, Skin Care Nurse, Case Management, Social Work and others.

Referral Process

Referrals to any of our rehabilitation programs can be made by calling,  (813) 844-7700.

Tampa General Rehabilitation Center accepts most major insurances and Workers’ Compensation for covered services.  The Rehabilitation Center is a designated provider for the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.  A prescription from a Florida licensed physician or ARNP/PA is required for therapy services.

Parking

Parking is available at the Rehabilitation Center for outpatient visits and limited ability guests.  Parking for visitors and family members is available in the parking garage adjacent to the main hospital.  For your convenience, limited parking is available at the Rehabilitation Center for patient admissions and discharges.

Acute Rehabilitation Services

Acute rehab services at Tampa General Hospital begins the continuum of rehabilitation care. Services available include: physical therapy to improve mobility; occupational therapy to improve self care; speech language pathology to improve communication, cognition and swallowing; psychology services for help adjusting to illness or disability; and recreational therapy to help improve participation in activities while in the hospital.

Intensive inpatient programs provide individuals and their families with the tools, knowledge and support to cope with recovery from:

• Stroke
  
• Spinal cord injury
  
• Brain injury
  
• Amputation
  
• Burns
  
• Orthopedic conditions
  
• Trauma
  
• Other neurological conditions

Services to promote independence include:

• Specialized patient/family education and support
  
• Customized orthotic/prosthetic fitting and training
  
• Swallowing evaluation and training
  
• Adaptive technologies
  
• Wheelchair seating and positioning evaluations/fitting
  
• Therapeutic recreation
  
• Neuromuscular re-education
  
• Cognitive rehabilitation

Other Resources

Florida Alliance for Assistive Services & Technology (FAAST)

Using the tools of assistive services and technology, FAAST strives to enhance the quality of life for all Floridians with disabilities.  This demonstration center promotes greater independence by providing information on assistive devices and services.  Call (813) 844-7591 or email faastcen@tgh.org for more information.

Florida Spinal Cord Injury Resource Center (FSCIRC)

The Resource Center is an information clearinghouse, serving people with spinal cord injuries, their families, support groups and rehabilitation professionals.  It provides publications, videos and other materials on spinal cord injury and related services.  For more information, call toll free 1-800-995-8544, or visit their website at http://www.flspinalcord.us.

Whether building on the skills gained from inpatient rehabilitation or just beginning a therapy program, our outpatient teams focus on long term management and adaptation to impairment. Patients work closely with the treatment team to achieve independence in self-care, resume roles within the family and return to community activities, work and school.

Tampa General offers outpatient medical rehabilitation at two locations: the Rehabilitation Center on the TGH campus and at our South Armenia Avenue outpatient clinic, 509 South Armenia Ave, Suite 301, Tampa, FL 33609.

Services include:
Audiology
Biofeedback
Occupational therapy
Hand therapy
Physical therapy
Speech and language pathology
Psychology
Neuropsychological testing

Services offered at the Rehabilitation Center on the TGH campus include, but are not limited to:

• Audiological evaluation
• Hearing aid evaluation and fitting
• Amputee rehab
• Balance / vestibular rehabilitation
• Brain injury program
• Spinal cord injury program
• Stroke rehabilitation
• Neuro-rehabilitation
• Cognitive retraining
• Voice therapy
• Swallowing studies
• Neuropsychological testing

Specialized Services include:

SAEBO Program: The SAEBO splint is a new treatment for individuals suffering from a stroke with some shoulder and elbow movement but little or no hand movement. TGH has therapists certified in the assessment, custom fitting and treatment for patients using the SAEBO splints.

Interactive Metronome Therapy: The interactive metronome (IM) is a brain-based assessment & treatment program developed to improve the processing abilities that affect motor planning and sequencing. The patient attempts to match the rhythmic beat heard through headphones with repetitive arm or leg movements.  IM has been shown to improve:

Attention and concentration
Motor planning and sequencing
Language processing
Behavior (aggression and impulsivity)
Balance and gait
Endurance
Strength
Motor skills
Coordination 

WalkAide: The small device is used for patients with foot drop after a UMN injury.  It attaches to the leg, just below the knee, near the head of the fibula.  During a gait cycle, the WalkAide stimulates the common peroneal nerve which innervates the tibialis anterior and other muscles that produce dorsiflexion of the ankle.

Bioness H200: This hand rehabilitation system is a functional electrical stimulation for people who have problems using their hand secondary to a stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury (C5 and C6) or other upper motor neuron injury.  Some benefits include neuromuscular re-education, reduction of muscle spasm, maintenance and increase of joint range of motion, increase in local blood circulation and providing hand function.

Wheelchair / Seating Evaluation:  The seating evaluation helps people with disabilities who are buying a new wheelchair or need modifications to an existing seating system.  A therapist will assess posture, postural supports and cushion for each individual.  Pressure mapping evaluation may be completed if necessary.  Therapists work closely with vendors in the community to ensure that patients have a variety of wheelchairs from different manufacturers for trial. The patient, therapist and vendor work together to fit each patient with a wheelchair that best meets his or her needs.

Assistive Technology Evaluations: For many people with disabilities, assistive technology (AT) is an essential support to daily living. A person may depend on a special computer keyboard, speech generating device or other AT device for independence at home, at school or at work. A certified assistive technology practitioner will work with you to determine your needs and recommend the most appropriate AT device.  To make an appointment at this location, call (813) 844-7719.  Physician referrals are required.

Pain Management Rehabilitation: Tampa General Hospital Outpatient Pain Management and Headache Program was established in 1985 and is CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accredited.  Emphasis is on self-management of chronic pain and headache, and personal responsibility for long-term success.  The pain team will perform a comprehensive or therapy specific evaluation and develop a personalized treatment plan to meet the goals established with the patient’s input. The following pain management services are offered:

• Medical management includes evaluation and treatment of headaches and chronic pain. Interventions may include medication management, IV therapies, trigger point injections, Botox injections, and EMG’s.

• Physical therapy may include postural and body mechanics education, cardiovascular training, trigger point self-massage, yoga, craniosacral therapy, soft tissue release and modalities (traction, ultrasound and electrical stimulation).

• Biofeedback utilizes modern day computerized programs to teach relaxation and non-pharmacological pain management interventions for all ages.

• Occupational therapy focuses on teaching patients adaptive techniques, pacing strategies and ergonomics to facilitate their highest level of performance in all activities of daily living, their chosen profession and return to work capabilities.

• Psychology helps people and their families cope with psychosocial issues related to their chronic pain utilizing a cognitive-behavioral approach. The goal is to reduce depression and anxiety, improve relationships with family and friends and improve quality of life.

• Nursing works in conjunction with the physician to provide patient education, IV infusion therapy and case management.

Referrals to our comprehensive outpatient program can be made by calling (813) 844-7837.  For referrals to specific therapies, please call (813) 844-7719.  Physician referrals are required.

Programs offered at our South Armenia Avenue clinic include:

Orthopedic Rehabilitation: Physical therapists work with patients on non-operative and post-operative management of acute pain and injuries of the low back, neck, hip, knee, ankle or shoulder. We utilize several modalities and individualized exercise programs tailored to fit each patient’s needs.

Hand Rehabilitation: Certified hand therapists work with patients who may have been affected by an accident or trauma leaving them with scars , injured tendons or nerves, fractures, or those who have cumulative trauma disorders – such as tennis elbow or carpal tunnel syndrome.

Burn Rehabilitation: Certified hand therapists work with patients with burns to optimize recovery and reduce scar formation with individualized exercise programs, splinting, scar management and measurement and fitting of pressure garments.

Functional Capacity Evaluations: Functional capacity evaluations, ergonomic analysis, work conditioning and post-job offer performance screenings are available.

To make an appointment, please call (813) 844-7706.  Physician referrals are required.

Serving infants, children, and adolescents, the pediatric rehab program specializes in maximizing the strength and independence of children following an illness, injury or surgery.  Pediatric Rehabilitation inpatients are cared for in Tampa General’s kid-friendly, Children’s Medical Center. The program focuses on providing family-centered care to the patients.

Tampa General Hospital’s Pediatric Rehabilitation Program has received Pediatric Speciality Program accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in the following areas:

• Pediatric Inpatient Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program (one of only two accredited programs in the state)
• Pediatric Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program
• Pediatric Outpatient Spinal Cord Injury Program (one of only two accredited programs in the state)
• Pediatric Outpatient Brain Injury Program (one of only three accredited programs in the state)

• Our major focus is providing developmentally appropriate care that acknowledges each child's/adolescent’s need to learn and play.
• We recognize that the family/support system is the constant in the child's life.
• The program is flexible and responsive to family/support system needs
• We work together with the family/support system and share complete information about the child’s care on an ongoing basis.
• We recognize and respect that each family/support system has different strengths and different methods of coping.
• We encourage parent-to-parent support.

Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation

Tampa General Hospital also offers Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation services at the Rehabilitation Center on the Main Hospital Campus.

The program is staffed by physical, occupational and speech and language therapists with pediatric experience.   Neuro Developmental Treatment (NDT) certified occupational and physical therapists as well as sensory integration certified therapists are on staff.

Outpatient therapy is provided in a child friendly environment with special consideration to age, developmental level and individual needs of the child.

Programs include but are not limited to:

• Neurodevelopmental therapy
• Sensory integration therapy
• Feeding evaluation and treatment
• Swallowing studies
• Language and articulation
• Cognitive treatment and retraining
• Interactive metronome therapy
• Spinal cord injury program
• Brain injury program
• Neuro-rehabilitation
• Audiological evaluation
• Wheelchair/seating evaluations
• Assistive Technology Evaluations

To make an appointment for Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation services, call (813)-844-7719.