Rehab Programs: Convenience and Quality
Getting back into the swing of things following illness, injury or surgery can present a real challenge. If you rush back too quickly, you can hurt yourself. If you wait and do nothing, you can lose strength and further delay your return to normal activities.
As part of your recovery, your doctor may recommend physical therapy. Working with a physical therapist can help you regain function, reduce your pain and rebuild strength. The proper support and guidance make all the difference. When selecting a therapist, you want one who understands and respects your physical needs and limitations. Lancaster General therapists work with you and your physician to develop a program specifically for you.
“We are an extension of the physicians. They trust us to help their patients. And we strive to earn both the confidence of physicians and their patients,” explains Ted Yanchuleff, Director of Outpatient Rehabilitation Services. “Our therapists give the physicians regular updates on the progress of their patients. We encourage physicians to offer input into the types of therapies they feel might be helpful for patients. Some of our physical therapy teams have even observed surgery so they can better understand a patient’s rehabilitation needs.”
Because of the nature of physical therapy, patients and therapists form a bond much like patients and physicians do. Believing in your therapist’s ability is critical for successful treatment, says Ed Sanborn, Manager, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation at the Lancaster General Health Campus. Lancaster General therapists place a high priority on spending quality one-on-one time with their patients so they can build a greater level of trust; supervise their patients’ efforts; and monitor their progress.
Besides understanding their patients, Lancaster General therapists understand what it takes to recover from different diseases and conditions. Many therapists pursue advanced training in specialty areas so they can better serve the needs of their patients.
Having a strong team of professionals who truly care about what they do benefits everyone. “The patients receive a better level of care while the other therapists are able to learn from their colleagues. Each therapist is an individual, but their experiences and training contribute to the entire program,” Ed says.
Most patients benefit greatly from traditional physical therapy, which is the type of treatment used most often. Time and time again, basic strength building, cardiovascular work and stretching have all proven to be effective ways of helping patients regain control of their lives following illness, injury or surgery. In addition, Lancaster General offers special programs, including:
Lancaster General promotes patient care and improves patient results through the development of new programs and the use of technological advances. The Hydroworx aquatic therapy pool at the Health Campus provides an example of how Lancaster General has pursued innovative ways to promote health and healing. Olympic and professional athletes across the country use this same state-of-the-art pool to recover from injury and surgery. But many patients who benefit from aquatic therapy aren’t elite athletes. They’re everyday people who need a low-impact option for their rehabilitation.
Often, aquatic therapy is done in conjunction with “dry land” physical therapy. As the patient improves his or her physical condition in the pool, their therapist may start to include other exercises designed to complement the water work. Aquatic therapy is a wonderful option for people who are not physically capable of starting another type of therapy immediately, Ted says. “In many cases, using aquatic therapy with other approaches can reduce a patient’s overall recovery time,” he notes.
Recovery is always the ultimate goal. Lancaster General therapists report good outcomes in this area. Therapists track a patient’s progress with specialized computer programs that monitor how well therapy is working. Lancaster General consistently rates high in patient satisfaction and in successful results—part of the reason why readers of Lancaster Newspapers twice selected Lancaster General as their “Favorite Physical Rehab Center.”
“We are here to promote the health of our community,” says Tom Swavely, Director of Kissel Hill Health Center and Columbia Health Center. “Our patients know that we offer consistently high-quality services at each of our sites.”
Regardless of where patients work or live, we want them to be able to receive Lancaster General quality rehabilitation services without having to drive more than 20 minutes. Lancaster General offers outpatient rehabilitation services at several sites throughout Lancaster County, including:
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Columbia Health Center (Columbia)
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Kissel Hill Health Center (Lititz)
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Lancaster General Health Campus (Lancaster)
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Physical Therapy at Cherry Street (downtown Lancaster)
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Norlanco Medical Associates (Elizabethtown)
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Willow Lakes Medical Services (Willow Street)
If you have any of the following, ask your doctor if physical therapy can help.
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Arthritis
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Back pain
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Balance or dizziness problems
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Cardiac disease
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Carpal tunnel syndrome
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Incontinence
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Knee, ankle or foot problems
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Orthopedic injury
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Orthopedic surgery
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Respiratory issues
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Speech problems
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Sprained or strained muscle(s)
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Stroke