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Outpatient Rehabilitation Services is a comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation center that provides physical therapy, occupational/hand therapy, speech therapy and work conditioning and physical capacity testing.

Our outpatient rehabilitation staff consists of licensed physical and occupational therapists, certified hand therapists and speech-language pathologists.

Our therapists specialize in:

  • Assessment and treatment of the foot and ankle, shoulder, knee, spine, hip, wrist, hand, and elbow
  • Advanced evaluation and treatment of musculoskeletal problems
  • Assessment and treatment of activity-related injuries
  • Evaluation and treatment of spinal injuries and spine care educational programs
  • Advanced manual therapy/mobilization of the spine and extremities
  • Injury prevention on the playing field and in the workplace
  • State-of-the-art, computerized assessment and treatment for balance disorders
  • ImPACT baseline concussion testing and post-concussion testing along with concussion therapy evaluation and treatment following concussion injuries
  • Advanced evaluation and treatment of lymphedema
  • Parkinson’s Disease LSVT Big and Loud Physical Therapy and Speech Therapy Program
  • Aquatic therapy in a state of the art therapy pool
  • Advanced evaluation and treatment of swallowing disorders

The WHS Outpatient Center is located inside the WHS Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center at 240 Wellness Way, Washington, PA 15301. Call (724) 250-6280 for an appointment. Day and evening appointments are available.

For additional details click on the services below.

With some painful conditions following surgery, injury or illness, your therapist may elect to utilize water therapy in conjunction with your land therapy program. Warm water of varying depths is successfully used to unburden painful joints and provide freedom of movement and enhanced recovery in a safe and comfortable environment.

  • Aquatic therapy is provided in our state-of-the-art warm water therapy pool in conjunction with a land based physical therapy program by a licensed therapist.
  • Treatment sessions promote improved circulation, strength and endurance, balance and coordination, increased range of motion, and decreased pain, and assists in joint protection during exercise.
  • Aquatic therapy provides a very safe and comfortable environment for patients recovering following orthopedic joint replacement surgery, injuries to the neck, shoulder, low back, knee, hip and ankle, chronic pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia and various neurological disorders.

All patients are seen on land prior to scheduling any aquatic therapy sessions. Patients must continue to be seen on land in conjunction with their water therapy during their therapy visits. Patient goals are land based, and the physical therapist uses the water as another method, in addition to traditional land therapy, to meet the individualized needs of the patients.

Washington Health System’s Outpatient Rehab Services’ state-of-the-art Biodex balance testing and training system is used to test and treat patients with various balance difficulties.

  • The system is used for a wide variety of diagnoses. It is extremely versatile and provides fast, accurate data.
  • It has interactive game-like balance training programs, which increases patient interaction and compliance.
  • Test results are compared to normative data for age and gender.

Through the Biodex system, the licensed therapist is able to easily screen and identify fall risk candidates and patients predisposed to injury. It also is an excellent tool to use in the assessment and treatment of various orthopedic and sports medicine injuries for all ages.

The system provides visual feedback and includes exercises in proprioception, stabilization, range of motion and weight shift. It is adapted to the physical functioning level of the patient, from simple to very complex testing or training.

All test results and training sessions are documented in full-size reports and are compared to normative population-specific testing data. Patient testing and ongoing progress is easily tracked and shared with the referring physician.

Washington Health System Outpatient Rehab Hand Clinic is located in the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center. Evaluation and treatment of the hand and upper extremity requires a special skill set. Our staff consists of certified hand therapists and therapy assistants who work together to ensure that the recovery process is as effective and efficient as possible. Our clinic is newly remodeled with state-of-the-art equipment available to meet the unique needs of each patient.

Reaching, grabbing, writing, driving, lifting or waving are all activities that we take for granted. Each of these seemingly simple daily activities—and many, many more—are only possible because of the versatility and flexibility of the upper extremity. This area of the human body is uniquely complex and includes the joints, bones, muscles and tendons of the fingers, hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. The intricate and mobile design coupled with the high volume of daily use and misuse can make this region of the body highly susceptible to injury.

At Washington Health System Outpatient Rehab Hand Therapy Clinic, our certified hand therapists perform a detailed assessment and develop a plan of care that fits the needs of each patient suffering from upper extremity pain or discomfort.

Our certified hand therapists are expert in treating many conditions affecting the hand and arm, including:

  • Soft tissue sprains, strains and contusions
  • Overuse and traumatic injuries
  • Degenerative and rheumatoid arthritis
  • Tendon and nerve repairs
  • Nerve compression
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Tendonitis
  • Traumatic hand injuries
  • Fractures
  • Surgical reattachments
  • Amputations
  • Physical effects of stroke and traumatic brain injury

Our Hand Clinic accepts most major insurances. Physician referral is required. Day and early evening appointments are available.

Lymphedema is the accumulation of fluid or swelling in the arm or leg. Lymphedema often occurs following an injury, scarring or surgical removal of lymph nodes. It is most commonly associated with cancer, surgery and radiation to the lymph nodes. Occasionally it is due to a traumatic event or chronic infection to the lymphatic system.

Lymphedema symptoms may include:

  • Tingling or numbness
  • Slow onset of swelling and tightness
  • Swelling typically begins in the arms or legs
  • History of frequent infection
  • Skin changes, such as hardening of the skin or ulceration

Lymphedema cannot be cured but should be treated. Without intervention there will likely be increased swelling, decreased range of motion and possible risk of infection. When lymphedema is treated, chances for infection decrease dramatically and tissue health improves. Patients often report improvement in overall quality of life, mobility and comfort.

Our Lymphedema Management Program will work with you in four areas:

  • Manual lymph drainage, which is a massage technique performed by a trained therapist that offers safe and gentle movement of fluid through the lymph system.
  • Bandaging and compression will provide a pressure gradient essential for fluid reduction. Patients will be bandaged in bulky cotton bandages daily and educated in self bandaging techniques. Once the fluid is reduced as much as possible, the patient is fitted with a compression garment that is worn daily.
  • Exercise instruction for a home-based program will be provided. These exercises play an important role in therapy as they activate the muscular contractions in the swollen extremity that work like a “muscle pump” to help to reduce fluid and increase lymphatic flow.
  • Instruction and education in lymphatic massage techniques and compression bandaging will be provided so that patients are able to handle their lymphedema independently.

Our Lymphedema clinician is also a certified lymphedema therapist with extensive experience in lymphedema management for upper and lower extremities. Physician referral is required, and most insurances cover all or part of the cost of this program. Appointments are available Monday through Friday at Washington Health System Outpatient Rehab Services located at the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center.

Speech therapy is used for individuals with difficulty understanding language, using language and/or making speech sounds correctly.

Swallowing therapy is used for individuals who have difficulty chewing, cough when drinking or eating, and have frequent choking episodes and/or discomfort when swallowing.

Many speech and/or swallowing problems result from a stroke, neurological disease or injury. Our licensed speech-language pathologists have extensive training and experience in all areas of rehabilitation for speech and swallowing disorders.

Disorders may include:

  • Aphasia (difficulty speaking or listening)
  • Dysarthria (slurred speech)
  • Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
  • Dysphonia (voice disorder)
  • Apraxia (a motor/speech disorder)

VitalStim Therapy

Washington Health System speech language pathologists are certified and trained in VitalStim, a specialty treatment for swallowing disorders. An estimated 15 million Americans are afflicted with dysphagia, a condition that causes discomfort or difficulty swallowing. At its most severe—when patients lose their ability to eat—dysphagia can profoundly disrupt a life. VitalStim is the first proven treatment for dysphagia.

VitalStim uses small electrical currents to stimulate the muscles responsible for swallowing. At the same time the speech therapist helps patients retrain their muscles through various exercises, progressing them to an independent home program so they can continue to strengthen the muscles after discharge from the program.

Our therapists have had great success with this treatment. Many patients who had required feeding tubes inserted in their stomachs for their nutritional needs are now eating normally and experiencing a much more satisfying quality of life.

Proper, early rehabilitation is essential for a swift recovery following a sports-related injury.

Our rehab team includes physical therapists, exercise physiologists, personal trainers and certified strength and conditioning specialists, along with our physicians—all working together to meet the specific needs of athletes.

  • The team works to maximize optimal, individualized care for each athlete.
  • Athletes have access to advanced, state-of-the-art equipment and the latest techniques available.
  • Our emphasis is on efficient transition from rehab to peak athletic performance and is accomplished through the close collaboration of our entire sports medicine team.
  • Education in proper strengthening, conditioning and training techniques is a key component to our program in order to minimize the risk of re-injury.

Most insurances cover assessment and treatment following a sports related injury. Physician referral is required.

Washington Health System’s Outpatient Rehab Team understands the importance of enabling our patients to return to work as quickly and safely as possible. That is why we view those injured in the workplace as “industrial athletes.” Our carefully coordinated evaluation and treatment protocols are designed to provide leading edge-care as expeditiously as possible.

We are committed to improving workplace safety and health by participating as a team with employers, workers and healthcare providers to create safer workplace conditions, reduce workplace-related injuries and ensure safe return to work.

We offer a broad spectrum of services to area businesses and workers. We also work with local physicians to manage work-related musculoskeletal problems and prevention. Our industrial services include the following.

Industrial Job-specific Pre-employment Physical Capacity Testing
The rehab team works with various employers to design an individualized pre-employment physical capacity test based on the employer’s job descriptions. Testing by a licensed therapist assesses various job-specific lifting activities, body mechanics and proper lifting techniques, cardiovascular fitness, cooperation with testing, as well as effort and pacing during testing. A final employment recommendation based upon test results is provided to the employer.

Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE)
The FCE is a comprehensive, objective and function-oriented evaluation. It provides the licensed therapist with data which assesses lifting from various levels, body mechanics, safety technique, heart rate and blood pressure response pre- and post-testing, and a pain assessment. Once the FCE is completed, the therapist will make recommendations for high-level conditioning physical therapy or for return to work depending upon testing results. If therapy is recommended, the FCE provides an essential baseline of information that the therapist and the patient can build upon, collaborating to set functional goals towards a safe and timely return to work.

Work Conditioning/High-level Physical Therapy Program
This program consists of intensive conditioning exercises and job simulation activities. Endurance, strength, proper body mechanics and lifting/positioning techniques are strongly emphasized to promote a safe return to the workplace. Patients are seen 3 to 5 days per week by a licensed physical therapist for an individually designed intensive exercise program and simulated job activities. Aquatic therapy is available for select cases. Therapists work collaboratively with their patients to control or reduce pain while increasing overall function with the final goal of safely and effectively returning the patient to the workplace and to his or her prior level of functioning. Work conditioning/high-level PT is covered by worker’s compensation and most insurance. A physician referral is required.

Washington Health System Outpatient Rehab Team understands the importance of skilled intervention following a concussion injury. Our physical therapists are specially trained in concussion evaluation and management, including baseline and post-concussion testing with ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), the most widely used and scientifically validated computerized concussion evaluation system. Following ImPACT testing, our therapists work closely with individuals that continue to experience ongoing concussion symptoms of headache, severe sensitivity to light, ringing in the ears, dizziness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, balance issues and/or memory loss in order to safely return them to their previous level of function and sport activities.