Physical Rehabilitation Department

Welcome to the physical rehabilitation department at the Tuba City Regional Health Care Center! Our staff consists of physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, and critical support staff – all dedicated to providing a comprehensive scope of rehabilitative services to the patients we serve.

What do we do?

Physical Therapy

Our physical therapy staff represents such a wide range of combined skills that virtually any service recognized as within the scope of physical therapy can be provided by one or more of our staff. Physical therapists are ‘hands on’ therapists, and many interventions involve the therapists physically helping the patient learn new movement patterns and safer ways of accomplishing personal goals. Examples of services available include but are not limited to: Orthopedic care for arm/leg/neck/back pain and other injuries, neurological rehabilitation, wound care, clinical electrophysiologic examination, balance training, gait training, ergonomics education, pediatric services, sensory integration.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy assist people of all ages to live life to the fullest by helping to promote health, and prevent – or live better with injury, illness, or disability. An occupational therapist is also trained to provide a number of other ‘hands on’ services, which include but are not limited to: orthopedic care for hand/wrist/elbow/shoulder after injuries or post-surgery, functional mobility training, custom orthoses, ergonomics assessments, pediatric care, and sensory integration. After a thorough assessment, an Occupational Therapist may help to assist you to come up with movements or change in movement so you can get your work done, take care of yourself at home, and stay active. For example how to do household chores, move around, eat independently without help, participate in activities that you enjoy, and take care of yourself (bathing, self-care, etc.) after an injury or after surgery.

Speech Language Pathology

A Speech-Language Pathologist is someone who helps people of all ages who have problems with: speaking (mispronouncing sounds, children delayed in speaking, etc.), with language (difficulty comprehending language after an injury or stroke, difficulty naming common objects in environment), with swallowing (feels like food get stuck in throat, coughs/chokes during eating or swallowing, etc.), with voice problems (hoarse voice, loss of voice, difficulty with voice strength after extubation, etc.), and/or with thinking skills (memory changes, difficulty planning, or problem solving after a brain injury or stroke). Also, people who are non-verbal are taught to use devices or a communication system (augmentative assistive devices, AAC) that speaks for them. Each May, Better Hearing & Speech Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and role of Speech-Language Pathologist in providing life-altering treatment. The Speech Pathologist, for example, evaluates and treats children who mispronounce lots of speech sounds so it is difficult to understand them, or children with cleft palate or hearing loss. The Speech Path also evaluates and treats adults or children with head injury after an accident or brain surgery or a stroke. Adults with Parkinson’s disease or other neurological disorders benefit from services for speech/language, swallowing, and cognition problems.

Outpatient Services

• Physical Therapy – across the lifespan and various diagnoses.
  • Other services:
    • EMG/NCV
    • Lymphedema
    • Dry Needling*
    • Wound Care, Home Wound Vac
• Occupational Therapy – across the lifespan and various diagnoses.
  • Other Specialty services:
    • Lymphedema
    • Custom orthoses
• Speech Therapy – across the lifespan and various diagnoses
  • Other Specialty services:
    • FEES
    • VFSS
    • Navajo-speaking SLP available
• Specialty Clinics
  • Prosthetic & Orthotic Clinic (POC) – monthly
  • Functional Clinic – monthly
  • High School Clinic – academic year

Inpatient Services

Covered 6 days per week; 2 of 3-day weekends.

• Physical Therapy; includes:
  • Wound Care, Wound Vac
  • Short Stay Surgery
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech Therapy
• Transitional Care Bed Program – PT, OT, SLP

 

Support Staff

So much work falls on these shoulders that giving an overview is difficult to define. The bottom line is that department function and patient flow would be dramatically and negatively affected if not for the contributions of these important staff members. Organizing a growing department is a significant task, and managing the flow of people and services is a tremendous challenge that they repeatedly rise up to excel at.

Want to Be Seen in Physical Rehabilitation?

If you think you might benefit from any of the services provided by the physical rehabilitation department, please ask your primary care provider for a referral, and they will be happy to ask us to see you for an evaluation. After you have been referred, we will make an appointment for ‘one-on-one’ time with one of our professionals to determine your needs and initiate a plan to help you reach your highest goals!