After a sudden event that alters the ability to perform everyday activities, it's important to regain as much movement and independence as possible. The St. James Center for Rehabilitation, located on the Chicago Heights campus, is a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program specializing in the treatment of conditions such as stroke, brain dysfunction, neurological conditions, spinal cord dysfunction, amputation, orthopedic and general rehabilitation. Many other hospitals refer patients to our Center for Rehabilitation allowing patients to be close to their homes and loved ones while undergoing rehabilitative care.
Our comprehensive program places our patients at the center of our rehabilitation team. Patients undergo an initial evaluation and a customized program of services is planned to meet each patient's goals and abilities. These services can include physical, occupational and speech pathology therapies, stroke care, neuropsychology, amputation care and gait balance analysis. Patients also benefit from 24-hour nursing care for wound and skin care, bowel and bladder function assistance as well as from spiritual care that is available at St. James.
Each patient is assigned a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team including a board-certified physiatrist (a physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation), nurses, therapists and case managers. Other St. James team members may include psychologists, dietitians and speech pathologists. These team members meet regularly to assess the patient's progress and make adjustments to the care and services as needed.
Family members or caregivers also play an integral role in our team approach since recovery usually continues beyond inpatient care. For this reason, our team regularly reviews the patient's progress with family to help them understand their role during in-patient treatment and after the patient is discharged. Family members are also encouraged to join patients for meals.
The primary focus of rehabilitation services at St. James is to promote personal independence by helping patients with physical and cognitive impairments achieve their optimal level of daily function. The state-of-the-art facility accommodates 30 patients and offers a new occupational therapy area with a simulated living environment and a new physical therapy gym that enhances the rehabilitation experience.
Equipment and services include a Biodex system to assist with partial weight bearing therapy, a fully simulated living environment including kitchen, bedroom, bath and laundry facilities. Also available for our patients is a car simulator to practice transfer skills.
For information, an appointment, or an evaluation, please call our intake specialist at 708.756.1000 ext. 3461.
