West Palm Beach VA Medical Center

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM & RS) provides treatment for eligible persons with temporary or chronic loss of function due to a variety of impairments so as to prevent secondary complications which could lead to prolonged morbidity or death; restore lost function or, where restoration is not possible, re-educate patients in alternatives to substitute for lost functions. The program is goal oriented, interdisciplinary and dedicated to maximization of residual abilities so as to enable the patients to attain optimal function physically, mentally, psychologically and vocationally. Its overall goal is to return the Veteran with major impairment to himself/herself, his/her family and the community. 

Services Offered

Physical Therapy/Kinesiotherapy
Provides upon medical prescription, evaluation, and treatment of disabilities caused by illness, disease, and injury through the use of therapeutic exercise, gait training, pain management, body mechanics, transfer training, vestibular re-education and exercise and the use of various physical properties of heat, sound, cold, and electricity.
  
Occupational Therapy (O.T.)
Provides upon medical prescription evaluation and treatment of disabilities caused by illness, disease, and injury through the use of therapeutic exercise and selected tasks. The primary goal of O.T. is to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, facilitate learning of skills and functions essential for adaptation and productivity, diminish or correct pathology and to promote and maintain health. The development and optimization of activities needed for daily living is one of the main focuses of O.T.
  
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Provides upon medical prescription of a Cardiologist, cardiac rehab. phase one and phase two. Program consists of active exercise program 2-3 times per week for 12 weeks and patient education.
  
Driver Rehabilitation
Provides upon medical prescription clinical and functional assessment of the Veteran's ability to operate a motor vehicle, on road evaluation and training with the use of adaptive driving equipment and makes recommendations for vehicle modifications and equipment. All recent stroke patients should have their ability to drive evaluated.
  
Preservation, Amputation, Care and Treatment (P.A.C.T.) Program
Provides wound care for lower extremities to prevent amputation and provides case management care and treatment for lower extremity amputations.
  
Electromyography (E.M.G.) & Nerve Conduction Study (N.C.S.)
The use of electrical impulses to determine the nerve conduction capability and determine pathology of nerve and muscle.