The St. Francis Medical Center Rehabilitation Department consists of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy. The rehabilitation services department provides patient oriented health services that promote prevention or reduction of disability and/or pain in order to return the patient to their optimal level of function and adaptation to permanent disability. Services are provided to both inpatients and outpatients of all ages.

The Rehabilitation Services Department is committed to meeting the healthcare needs of the whole person: body, mind and spirit, and to respect the dignity of each patient.


Physical Therapy
Physical therapy restores optimum function through increasing mobility and strength and decreasing pain. Examples of diagnoses treated by physical therapy are orthopedic:total joint replacements, fractures, amputees, and arthritis; neurological:stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, spinal cord injury; oncological; pain management; wound care / hydrotherapy; and general debilitating conditions. Treatment may include patient/family education, gait training, functional / mobility training, therapeutic exercise, muscle re-education, perceptual training and other modalities such as: traction, electrical stimulation and ultrasound.


NICU Occupational Therapy
An Occupational Therapist specializing in neonatal developmental intervention monitors neurobehavorial, developmental milestones as well as feeding intolerances. Provides developmental guidance and assistance in transitioning to nipple / breastfeeding. Intervention will assist to reduce the morbidity associated with specific diagnoses. Emphasis is placed on providing education, support and understanding to the parents / caregiver as they establish communication with the infant or child and follow through with the specialized program after discharge.

On an outpatient basis developmental screening and evaluations are performed in order to identify potential delays. Children scoring below average are either referred back to the outpatient clinic for treatment or referred to appropriate outside resources such as the California Children's Service (CCS) or Regional Center.

Speech-Language Pathology

The Speech Therapy Department provides diagnostic and therapeutic services inpatient and outpatients of all ages with speech, language, cognitive and swallowing disorders. Examples of patients requiring the services of speech therapy are any patients' with visual processing and memory, cognitive and communication impairment. Treatment interventions provided may include: verbal and / or written language training, patient and family education; cognitive assessment and training; videofluoroscopic assessment of swallowing disorders, visual processing training, management of oral feedings, speech production training and development of augumentative and alternate communication systems.