St. Joseph and Redwood Memorial Hospitals

The St. Joseph Hospital Medical Rehabilitation Center is a comprehensive program of services designed to help patients return to productive lifestyles after injury or illness. Ourtransdisciplinary team is made up of highly skilled physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, recreation therapists, dietitians, social workers, and patients. Our transdisciplinary team formulates individualized care plans to meet patients' medical needs and maximize each individual's level of independence. Our mission is to help each patient achieve a maximum level of independence by developing attainable goals for rehabilitation.

Our approach to care is patient-focused, with individual treatment plans to meet each patient’s unique needs. Our comprehensive services are designed to address the physical, cognitive and behavioral aspects of rehabilitation. Equipped with the latest technology, the Inpatient Rehabilitation Center provides cost-effective treatment in a managed care environment.

All services are tailored to the individual patient. Examples of specific services include home evaluations, team training with patients and their caregivers, and team conferences with patients and family for educational needs, and discharge planning.

Outpatient Services

A full continuum of care with Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy is offered in the outpatient setting. For more details, call (707) 441-4454.

Mission Statement

The Mission of St. Joseph Hospital Medical Rehabilitation Center is to provide physical rehabilitation services in a positive patient-centered environment. This promotes restoration of maximum functional abilities and allows for a dignified quality of life experience. As a staff we are guided by our core values of Dignity, Excellence, Service, and Justice.

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities

The Transdisciplinary Approach

The transdisciplinary approach is a multi-discipline approach to recovery and therapy that:

Assesses the total patient and environment with a focus on abilities and support systems.
Assesses boundaries defined by the discharge environment. The team sets common goals based on barriers to discharge.
Has a treatment plan organized around skill requirements of the discharge environment.
Has treatments focused on functional skill acquisition related to overcoming barriers to discharge. Normal movement is facilitated at all times. Compensatory skills are taught when normal movement cannot be achieved.
Sets barrier-focused goals based on outcomes to be achieved. If a goal does not contribute to removing a barrier to discharge, it is eliminated from the treatment plan.
Begins active family teaching at admission and continues throughout the duration of the treatment.
Builds skill generalization into the treatment plan.
Discharge planning becomes one of the common team goals.
Follow-up services are coordinated and monitored in order to sustain a successful outcome.

What Types of Patients Do We Treat?

The Rehabilitation Unit is designed to provide care to patients recovering from stroke (CVA), spinal cord injury, amputations, orthopedic surgeries, major multiple trauma, brain injury, polyarthritis, neurological disorders, burns and other diagnosis that primarily require all or some of the following:

What is a typical day for a rehabilitation patient?

A patient's morning starts with therapy to relearn dressing and self care skills. Patients then go to the dining room where they eat their meals in a group setting. A schedule of each patient's daily therapy times is posted in the morning. Patients will receive occupational, physical and recreational therapy. They will also have speech therapy if appropriate. Therapy may be individual or group, depending upon the patient’s needs. This makes for a full day of at least 3 hours of therapy aimed at increasing the patient's functional independence.

What happens to a patient after discharge?

Discharge plans are considered even before a patient comes to the Rehabilitation Unit. There are weekly team meetings aimed at discussing discharge options. The Rehab Case Managers play a key role in keeping patients and their families informed about what is discussed in the team meetings. The ultimate goal is to return the patient to the previous home environment. Unfortunately, that is not always possible, and alternative plans must be made. The team looks at the possibility of available care givers to enable a patient to return home with assistance. Other options include transitional facilities, independent living facilities, or more skilled care facilities.

The Rehabilitation Physician is a doctor who is specially trained in rehabilitation medicine, and who will manage and coordinate your program. The physician, nurses and each team member completes your initial assessment and outlines the goals for your treatment. The rehabilitation physician directs your care while you are here as well as after discharge for continued therapy as needed.

Rehabilitation Nurses provide twenty-four hour nursing care. The nursing staff will help you with activities of daily living, administer medications and prescribed treatments. They teach you about your disability and how to take care of yourself and teach others, who may be needed to assist you at home. They reinforce the skills you are learning to promote your independence and lessen dependence on others. St. Joseph Hospital is proud to have a large number of Certified Rehab Nurses (CRRN) on staff.

Occupational Therapists assist you in learning the skills and adaptations necessary to regain function and satisfaction in the home, the workplace and the community. This is accomplished by strengthening and improving coordination to overcome or lessen disabilities. Therapy may include grooming, bathing, dressing, swallowing treatment and household tasks and activities to help you return to your previous lifestyle.

Physical Therapists assess your ability to move about safely. They evaluate your strength, flexibility, muscle tone, coordination and endurance levels. The plan of treatment includes ways to improve in these areas to maximize your potential for recovery. Therapy will include training in bed mobility, transfers from bed, chair, toilet and car and gait or wheelchair mobility.

Speech Language Therapists: Communication disorders may include difficulty in speaking, understanding, thinking, reasoning, memory, reading, writing or mathematics. The Speech Language Therapist will evaluate each of these components to determine your therapy needs and will follow through with treatment. If you have swallowing problems, they can be evaluated and a treatment plan developed.

Recreation Therapists evaluate your previous leisure interests and abilities. Treatment consists of individual and group sessions, using therapy education and participation to increase your physical, mental and social abilities enabling you to resume these meaningful activities. Treatment may also consist of community outings to reinforce skills and activities learned in therapy to facilitate your transition from rehabilitation to home and the community. Outings also assist family members to effectively overcome obstacles encountered in the community.

Social Services: The Social Workers assist you in identifying your goals and monitoring your progress to return to your home and community. They act as facilitators for emotional support and assist you in developing skills to cope with the changes resulting from illness and disability.

Case Management is the process by which we can assure you of a cohesive, transdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation; beginning with the receipt of your referral, continuing throughout your stay, at discharge, and in the transition back into the community. Your team meets weekly in conferences that are attended by your rehabilitation doctor, nurses, therapists and social workers. These team meetings are held to review your progress and update your plan of treatment and goals.

Case management services provide communication with insurance companies and referring physicians through telephone calls and written reports and also facilitate communication between the patient, the family and all the team members.

Dietitian: The Registered Dietitian evaluates your nutritional needs and plans with you a diet based upon your food preferences and any restrictions prescribed by your physician. Prior to discharge the dietitian will instruct you regarding special diet requirements you are to follow at home.

Respiratory Therapists are available to assess your respiratory status and provide an individualized treatment plan when ordered by your physician.

Prosthetist/Orthotists are available for making braces, artificial limbs and other adaptive devices when needed to improve your function or safety.

Rehabilitation Services