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PMR Disciplines

Doctors, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, recreational therapists, rehab counselors, and other medical professionals in rehabilitation medicine are sitting around a table.
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Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy, performed by an Occupational Therapist or an Occupational Therapy Assistant, is an evidence-based profession that enables people of all ages to live life to it's fullest by helping them promote health and prevent or live with illness, injury, or disability.

  • Occupational Therapists evaluate, Diagnose, and develop customized treatment programs to improve one's ability to perform daily activities

Educational Requirements

Educated at the college or university level, practitioners must complete supervised clinical internships and pass a national examination. Most states also regulate occupational therapy practice.

Physiatry

Find out more here.

Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy, performed by a Physical Therapist or a Physical Therapist Assistant, is a dynamic profession which focuses on the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function.

  • Physical therapists are also known as physiotherapy or physiotherapists.
  • They diagnose and manage movement dysfunction and enhance physical function.
  • Provide services to prevent onset, symptoms, and progression of functional limitations, and disabilities that may result from diseases, disorders, conditions, or injuries.

Educational Requirements

Physical therapists are professionally educated at the college or University level and are required to be licensed in the state which they practice.

Psychology

Psychology Program

Psychology Program offers comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluation and treatment services for individuals with cognitive and physical impairments.

Services include:

  • Neuropsychological evaluations
  • Patient/family education
  • Individual, couple, and family counseling
  • Chronic pain management

Recreational Therapy

Recreational Therapies

Therapeutic recreation services are based on each individual patient's interests and lifestyles as they relate to their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functional abilities.

     The Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) uses each patient's recreation and leisure interests as part of an individually designed plan to improve their overall function or well-being. By using the patient's recreation and leisure interests, we are able to make each treatment meaningful and fun for the individual while meeting a therapeutic goal.

Some of the positive outcomes from therapeutic recreation services include but are not limited to:

  • Increased strength
  • Increased endurance
  • Increased coordination
  • Increased safety and judgement
  • Decreased depression
  • Increased coping strategies
  • Increase in perceived quality of life
  • Improved memory skills
  • Improved attention
  • Improved problem solving
  • Improved social skills
  • improved self confidence
  • Decreased social isolation

   Therapeutic recreation also may help to improve a patient's ability to cope with hospitalization and the stress of medical procedures. Therapeutic recreation can also help families to be more involved with their loved ones when they come in to visit by allowing them to interact with their loved one in a fun and non-threatening activity.

     In therapeutic recreation we also provide community re-entry for patients who will be discharged directly back to their homes and communities. The community outing allows the patient and care giver the opportunity to practice the skills they have learned in their therapy sessions out in the community in hopes to help create a seamless transition from the hospital setting back into the patient's own community.

Speech Language Pathology

Speech and Language Pathology

Speech-language pathologists are also known as speech therapists.

  • A speech-language pathologist is responsible for diagnosis, prognosis, prescription, and remediation, of speech, language, and swallowing disorders. A speech-language pathologist evaluates and treats children and adults who have difficulty speaking, listening, reading, writing, or swallowing.
  • Assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent disorders related to speech, language, cognitive-communications, voice, swallowing and fluency. The overall objective of speech-language pathology services is to optimize individuals' ability to communicate and swallow, thereby improving quality of life

Educational Requirements

A master's degree is the most common level of education. Licensure or certification requirements also exist and vary by State

Rehabilitation Therapist

Rehabilitation Counselors

  • Rehabilitation counselors help people deal with personal, social, and vocational effects of disabilities and addictions. They counsel people with disabilities resulting from birth defects, illness or disease, accidents, or the stress of daily life.
  • The rehabilitation counselor meets with patients who have concerns about returning to work or school, need assistance accessing community supports or have questions about disability benefits. The rehabilitation counselor evaluates the need for other services or connections with community resources such as local independent living centers, regional "One Stops", and state agencies such as ACCES-VR.

Educational Requirements

Rehabilitation counselors typically hold a Masters degree from an accredited University. National certification is available through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

Our Vision and Mission Statements

Vision Statement

The vision of the Division of Rehabilitation Therapy at Upstate Medical University, is to be the leading provider of rehabilitation services for individuals in the Central New York area and the provider of high quality educational opportunities for affiliates and the community through best practice and quality therapists and assistants.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Rehabilitation Division at Upstate Medical University is providing quality rehabilitation therapy services through best practice and providing outstanding educational opportunities for affiliating schools, other health care professionals and the community.

Upstate Regional Rehabilitation Centers at University Hospital
Upstate University Hospital
Rm. N2104
750 East Adams Street
Syracuse, NY 13210
Google Maps & Directions
Phone: 315 464-6543
Fax: 315 464-4753
Hours:Mon.-Fri. 7:30am-4:30pm
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