Inpatient Rehabilitation
Optimal recovery after a serious illness, injury or surgery starts while you are still in the hospital. At Houston Methodist, our supportive team of hospital-based rehab specialists have the experience and training to help you regain function and independence. Our goal is to support your recovery and get you back to your family and doing the things you love.
When it comes to going to a hospital-based rehab program , quality and safety measures are important factors to consider. Houston Methodist is the top-ranked hospital in Texas for patient care and safety, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Our inpatient rehabilitation program consistently delivers exceptional results — in fact, outcomes for our patients recovering from stroke exceed national benchmarks. Learn more about our outcomes [PDF].
While you are recovering from illness or injury, the path may seem long and challenging. The right care and support makes all the difference. At the Houston Methodist Rehabilitation Center, we provide a safe, compassionate and personalized patient experience while helping you regain your sense of well-being and reach your highest level of function.
What to Expect at Houston Methodist Inpatient Rehabilitation Center
What is inpatient rehab?
Your doctor may refer you for inpatient rehabilitation after surgery or a serious illness or injury, or to help improve the symptoms of a chronic condition. We offer the full range of physical and occupational therapies, as well as speech rehabilitation services in a supportive hospital-based setting.
Our specialists work with patients who have a variety of neurological, cardiac and other serious conditions, including:
- Brain injuries (traumatic and non-traumatic)
- Cancer-related conditions
- Cardiac conditions, such as heart attack, coronary artery disease and heart surgery
- Musculoskeletal conditions, such as joint or hip replacement, limb amputation, fractures and tendon injuries
- Neuromuscular conditions, such as Guillain-Barre, multiple sclerosis, ALS and myasthenia gravis
- Pulmonary conditions, such as COPD, sarcoidosis, cystic fibrosis and lung surgery
- Spinal cord injuries or disease
- Stroke
Prior to admission, you’ll be assessed by a doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation and our admissions coordinator. Together, they’ll determine whether you might benefit from the program. Patients admitted to our program must meet these guidelines:
- Are expected to improve function within a short period of time
- Are medically stable
- Can participate in at least three hours of therapy per day, five days per week
- Need help managing diet, medication and follow-up care
- Need at least two of the following:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech-language therapy
What can I expect?
Houston Methodist offers high-quality, patient-centered treatment plans. That means you and your family members will actively participate in goal-setting discussions and discharge planning to ensure you are supported during and after rehab.
We want you to get the most out of your time in inpatient rehabilitation. Your care team works together to design a therapy plan to help meet your goals. Some of the common concerns we address in rehab include:
- Activities of daily living (dressing, bathing, toileting, self-care)
- Barriers to returning home
- Challenges to community re-entry (work, school, travel, public spaces)
- Cognitive issues (difficulties with memory, thinking or reasoning)
- Feeding and swallowing
- Functional impairments
- Mobility (use of limbs, walking or using assistive devices)
- Speech restoration
Depending on your diagnosis and concerns, your plan may include physical or occupational therapies, as well as speech rehabilitation services. Services may be provided in individual or group settings. We have a fully functional gym, where your therapist will help you work on muscle strength, flexibility and coordination. Additional services may include:
- Animal-assisted therapy
- Music therapy
- Recreation therapy
Specialized Groups
Specialized therapy groups complement your treatment by providing additional support. Groups are especially helpful if your diagnosis has drastically changed your lifestyle. Using peer support and education, groups address a variety of things, including:
- Breath support and communication
- Cognitive support
- Core stabilization, balance and posture
- Diet and nutrition
- Eating and swallowing (may include family members)
- Endurance for sitting and daily activities
- Independence and responsibility
- Rejoining the community or public settings following injury
- Socialization, responsibility and preparation for discharge
- Strength and flexibility
Some of our specialized groups include:
- ICARE – To promote Independence, Core stabilization, Awareness Respiration, Endurance.
- Exercise – To improve overall strength, endurance and flexibility by doing active and resistance exercises with weights and machines.
- Lunch – To promote safe, independent feeding and swallowing.
- Let’s Go – To provide an interdisciplinary approach to reintegrating patients in the community so they can experience a public setting, often for the first time after an injury.
- Locomotion – To incorporate music and musical concepts to facilitate ambulation and mobility.
Your psychological and spiritual health are equally important to recovery. We will happily help make arrangements to honor your special dietary needs or religious customs.
If you need additional support after leaving the hospital, we will help streamline a referral to a skilled nursing facility, long-term acute care center, home or another outpatient setting.
Frequently asked questions about inpatient rehab