Rehabilitation Specialist

Rehabilitation Specialist is a healthcare professional who helps people recover from an illness or injury and return to daily life. Examples of rehabilitation specialists are physical therapists and occupational therapists. Physical therapists (PTs) provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. Their patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.

Role of a Rehabilitation Specialist

Therapists examine patients’ medical histories and then test and measure the patients’ strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function.
They also determine patients’ ability to be independent and reintegrate into the community or workplace after injury or illness.
Next, physical therapists develop treatment plans describing a treatment strategy, its purpose, and its anticipated outcome.
Physical therapist assistants, under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist, may be involved in implementing treatment plans with patients.
Physical therapist aides perform routine support tasks, as directed by the therapist.
Physical therapists practice in hospitals, clinics, and private offices that have specially equipped facilities, or they treat patients in hospital rooms, homes, or schools.
Provides services to clients in meeting problems of personal, social, and vocational adjustment.

How Rehabilitation Specialist effects you?

Interprets and analyzes applicants physical or mental condition, social and economic situation, attitudes and aptitudes, work experiences, functional limitations, educational background and personality traits to determine kind and extent of disability and rehabilitation possibilities.
Assists employers and businesses with guidelines for accommodating people with disabilities according to the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws, regulations, policies, and procedures pertaining to persons with disabilities.
Administers and/or develops work samples and situational assessments.
Plans and arranges for rehabilitation services; approves expenditures within specified limits for planned rehabilitation services.
Reviews and assesses medical, psychological, neuropsychological, legal, educational and social information concerning clients who have been referred for vocational evaluation; determines need for additional diagnostic information.
Consults with physicians, psychologists and other appropriate disability professionals regarding findings of examinations; administers and interprets psychological tests when indicated; determines eligibility for rehabilitation services on the basis of law and policy; and assists individuals in formulating a suitable rehabilitation plan.
Confers with public and private employers to establish job opportunities for rehabilitation clients; aids clients in securing employment consistent with their capabilities; monitors client progress.
Provides program monitoring and consultation; keeps appropriate case records and controls case service expenditures.