Rehabilitation Therapy - Dignity Health - St. Joseph's Medical Center

Our comprehensive rehabilitation services at St. Joseph's Medical Center include:

• Cardiac rehabilitation to help you resume a healthy lifestyle if you’re recovering from a heart attack or have a heart condition
• Occupational therapy to work on fine motor coordination so you can manage daily activities, like bathing, dressing and preparing meals
• Pulmonary rehabilitation for people with lung disease to improve lung function, manage symptoms and restore quality of life
• Physical therapy to restore function, improve mobility and relieve pain

At St. Joseph's Medical Center, we help patients resume a healthy lifestyle when they’re recovering from a heart attack or have a heart condition, such as congestive heart failure. Cardiac rehabilitation can help you increase your fitness, improve your recovery and reduce your risk of experiencing new cardiac events. It can also help slow the progression of congestive heart failure.

Our specially trained staff works with your doctor to create a specific exercise plan based on your needs and your heart's response to exercise. You’ll participate in exercise classes about two to three times per week for one to three months. We’ll monitor your heart rate, heart rhythm and blood pressure while you use various types of exercise equipment. Our services include:

• Diet and nutrition counseling and monitoring

• EKG-monitored exercise

• Long-term exercise programs to maintain your fitness

• Strategies to lower your risk for future heart problems

Our pulmonary rehabilitation program treats people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, emphysema, bronchitis and bronchiectasis. Our respiratory therapists, occupational therapists and pharmacists develop a personalized program to evaluate, treat and manage your condition. We’re focused on: 

• Decreasing your shortness of breath

• Increasing your activity level

• Teaching you how to use and care for your breathing devices

• Teaching you how to better care for yourself at home

Our staff works closely with your doctor to help them monitor your progress.

Graduates of the pulmonary rehabilitation program at St. Joseph's Medical Center experience many positive outcomes, including:

• Better communication with family members

• Fewer periods of depression

• Fewer visits to the doctor

• Improved ability to cope with daily breathing-related stress

• Increased activity level

• Less sick time

• Less time in the hospital

Our Allergic Asthma Program provides education services to allergic asthma patients who don’t need intensive rehabilitation. The program helps patients improve their overall health and reduce asthma flare-ups and doctor visits. Over three sessions, we teach you about:

• Creating an asthma control plan

• How asthma affects your lungs (pathophysiology)

• Establishing an asthma control plan

• Identifying asthma triggers

• Managing an asthma episode

• Using medications properly

• Using your peak flow meter

• When to contact your doctor to adjust your treatment plan

• When to seek emergency care

Our physical therapists help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities. We offer services designed to improve: 

• Balance and coordination

• Posture

• Motor function

• Muscle performance

• Range of motion

• Respiration

• Strength 

Our physical therapists design and regularly modify personalized treatment plans to meet each patient’s unique needs, with services including: 

• Cold compresses

• Deep-tissue massage

• Education on how to use supportive equipment, like crutches, prosthetics and wheelchairs

• Electrical stimulation

• Exercises to promote recovery

• Hot packs

• Traction

• Ultrasound

Our occupational therapists help patients who need help with fine motor skills to get back to their regular daily activities, such as bathing, dressing and fixing meals. Conditions we commonly treat include:

• Arm and hand problems and injuries

• Arthritis

• Fractures

• Multiple sclerosis

• Parkinson’s disease

• Repetitive motion injuries

• Stroke

• Tendonitis

The length of rehabilitation therapy depends on your condition, goals and progress. Some patients need only a few weeks of therapy, while others may benefit from longer-term care. Your therapist will regularly evaluate your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed to help you achieve the best possible outcomes.

Referral requirements depend on your insurance plan and the type of therapy you need. Some plans allow direct access to rehabilitation therapy, while others require a referral from a physician. Our therapy team at (209) 943-2000 can help answer referral questions and assist with scheduling your appointment.

Most major health insurance plans cover rehabilitation therapy services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation. Coverage details may vary based on your plan, diagnosis and whether you receive inpatient or outpatient services. Our staff at (209) 943-2000 can help verify insurance coverage, explain benefits and answer questions before your first visit.