Orientation to Rehab - Meet Our Team
Your therapy team includes:
Physiatrist: A physiatrist is a doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Your assigned physiatrist will be the manager of the rehabilitation team. They will visit you a minimum of 3 times a week while at Pinecrest Rehabilitation Hospital. The physician will design and manage your integrated rehab program. Our Pinecrest Physiatrists are: Dr. Nicholas Dang and Dr. Jeffrey Farber.
Nursing Team:
Unit Nursing Director: A Registered Nurse who supervises your nursing care team, which includes the clinical managers, registered nurses, and certified nursing assistants. The unit Nursing Director also develops patient care programs, policies and procedures. They coordinate the daily operations of the nursing unit and is available to help you with any problems during your hospital stay or following your discharge from the hospital.
Charge Nurse: A Registered Nurse who provides assistance for the unit director and is responsible for the activities of the nursing unit during the assigned shift. The Charge Nurse is available to help with any problems that you may have and will contact other team members, as needed, to assist you.
Staff Nurse: A trained and licensed Registered Nurse who oversees and assists with your personal care by taking doctor’s orders, giving out medications, monitoring your medical status, educating you and your family on your condition, providing discharge instructions and coordinating your care with other team members. The Registered Nurse (RN) also directs any care you may receive from Rehabilitation Technicians who work together as part of your nursing team. Over 81% of eligible Pinecrest nurses hold advanced specialty certification as Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurses (CRRN). The CRRN validates the experience, dedication, and expertise of the nurses in the rehabilitation field.
Rehabilitation Technician: A certified team member who assists with your personal care on the nursing unit including bathing, toileting, dressing, feeding and taking vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature). All findings are reported to an RN on the nursing unit.
Psychologist: A trained and licensed doctor (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) who assists you and your family with coping not just with the physical aspects, but also the emotional aspects of your condition or illness to facilitate recovery.
Physical Therapist (PT): A trained and licensed therapist who evaluates and maximizes your independence with mobility goals. Mobility goals may include wheelchair training, getting in and out of the bed and car, walking, and going up and down curbs, ramps or stairs, as appropriate. Important components of PT include increasing leg strength, and improving balance and function. A PT may supervise a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) in the delivery of your physical therapy.
Occupational Therapist (OT): A trained and licensed therapist who evaluates and maximizes your independence with your activities of daily living. Activities of daily living (ADLs) may include dressing, grooming, hygiene, feeding, getting in or out of the tub or shower, and homemaking skills. Important components of OT include increasing arm strength and improving fine motor control. The OT may also address vision and safety awareness. An OT may supervise a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) in the delivery of your occupational therapy.
Speech Therapist (ST): A trained and licensed therapist who evaluates and maximizes your independence with ability to communicate and swallow.
Communication includes the ability to speak and understand, and to problem solve in everyday situations. Swallowing includes the ability to chew and safely swallow food and liquid.
Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (TR): A trained and certified therapist who evaluates your leisure lifestyle, mobility, and cognition in order to utilize recreation as a tool to meet the goals set in place by the interdisciplinary team of therapists.
An important component of TR is community re-entry, which allows the patient to acclimate to community settings (shopping center, restaurants, etc.) prior to discharge..
Case Manager: The Case Manager serves as coordinator between you, your family, the treatment team and your insurance company. The Case Manager schedules your team and family conferences and assists with your discharge planning needs, as well as assist in arranging needed post discharge care.
Dietitian: A registered dietician screens for nutritional risks, caloric needs, and any special dietary needs or restrictions. You may have a dietician available to instruct you on special diets you may need to follow at home.
