All Medical Center inpatients referred for acute therapy services are assessed by a therapist before treatment begins. This in-hospital assessment determines specific areas of functional deficit resulting from the individual's disease, surgery or injury. Therapists are often called upon to help patients in the medical unit and surgical unit with problems associated with acute pain, trauma or neurologic impairments. Oftentimes, therapists help patients with pain management techniques, management of open wounds, identification and treatment of swallowing problems and improvement of mobility following surgery.

Therapists focus on preventing complications, work with patients to improve their level of function and prepare patients for discharge from the Medical Center. The therapy staff provides training to the caregiver, develops home exercise programs (including range-of-motion exercises), determines home equipment needs and orders home equipment. In addition, the therapists identify patients' needs for the next level of care.

Due to prolonged periods of bed rest, therapists are often consulted because extended bed rest may bring on difficulty breathing, poor respiratory capacity, cardiovascular problems, bed sores or problems with skin integrity, decreased strength and decreased tolerance to perform activities. Because Cedars-Sinai Medical Center performs a wide variety of unique and innovative surgical procedures and programs, therapy services provide state-of-the-art therapeutic activities to meet the needs of these patients. Once problem areas are identified, the therapist designs a treatment program to return the patient as much as possible to his or her pre-hospital level of function. Each program is tailored to the individual patient. This program may call for physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy or neuropsychological services depending on the individual's needs and condition.

Each expert on the rehabilitation team focuses on a different area of the patient's needs and conditions.

A physical therapist tests strength, range of motion, balance, coordination, ability to feel physical sensations and pain, ability to move in and out of the bed and ability to walk. Physical therapy treatment plans may include exercise, posture, positioning, mobility training, gait training, use of assistive devices, pain management techniques, hydrotherapy and wound care.

An occupational therapist tests arms and fingers for deficits in motion and fine movements, coordination and ability to do self-care activities, such as grooming, bathing, dressing and going to the bathroom. The therapist may also assess swallowing problems and issues associated with brain injury and cognitive function, such as problem solving, planning of tasks and other actions related to daily living. Occupational therapy may include retraining in activities of daily living, splint fabrication, cognitive retraining and swallowing therapy.

A neuropsychologist tests for cognitive problems resulting from brain injury, stroke or other neurologic disorders. Treatment is designed to address the individual needs of each patient.