Methodist Health System Services

Methodist Acute Rehabilitation Center Team

The Methodist Acute Rehabilitation Center, in Omaha, NE, cares for rehabilitation patients with an interdisciplinary team approach. Individual care is provided by a team of dedicated health care professionals and rehabilitation specialists.

The Methodist Acute Rehabilitation Center, located inside Methodist Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska,  ensures that patients' rehabilitation goals are met while they are at Methodist Acute Rehab Center and helps them return home to productive and satisfying lives.   

A Team Approach

Depending on each patient's individual needs, rehabilitation team members include:

Rehabilitation Physicians
The team of health professionals and rehabilitation specialists at the Methodist Rehab Center is led by physiatrists, physicians with extensive treatment in physical medicine and rehabilitation. In consultation with the individual's personal physician, the physiatrist directs the overall treatment plan for each patient.

Learn more about the Methodist Acute Rehabilitation Center, Omaha, NE,  Rehab Physician:

• Jude Cook, MD, Medical Director

Care Coordinator
A registered nurse who facilitates the coordination of rehab care within the Methodist Acute Rehabilitation Center, Omaha, NE,  and with outside entities(such as insurance companies) to ensure patients receive the maximum benefit from the rehabilitation program.

Medical Social Worker
This specialized professional helps patients and their families create appropriate plans for discharge and continuity of care.  This team member also provides support and assistance with problem-solving and issues related to finances, community resources and challenges to daily living the person may face following discharge from the Methodist Rehabilitation Center.

Rehabilitation Nursing
Providing care for the patient 24 hours a day, seven days a week is the role of this team member. Rehabilitation nurses coordinate the plan of care to prevent complications, restore optimal functioning and help the person adapt to his or her situation.

Physical Therapy
The patient works with a physical therapist to restore balance, coordination, strength and endurance as well as mobility and functional independence.

Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists assist patients in achieving personal goals through training in self-care, home and community management, cognition, upper body strengthening and coordination.

Speech and Language Therapy
Speech therapists provide evaluation and treatment for individuals with a variety of communication disorders, including problems affecting auditory and reading comprehension, verbal and written expression, memory, orientation, voice, swallowing, social skills and attention and concentration.

Therapeutic Recreation
The therapeutic recreation therapist works with rehabilitation patients to eliminate barriers, develop skills and provide opportunities for them to develop and maintain an appropriate leisure lifestyle following changes in physical, mental, emotional or social abilities.

Additional Rehab Team Members

The team of professionals working with the Methodist Acute Rehabilitation Center patient also may include the following additional members:

Admissions Coordinator
This team member evaluates and assists in determining a patient's eligibility for admission to the Rehab Center. Working with the medical team, a patient's admission is based on clinical judgment, insurance limitations and admissions criteria. The admissions coordinator also introduces the patient and family to the unit and rehabilitation staff.

Neuropsychologist

This professional has specialized training in the inter-relationship between the brain and behavior. Testing administered by the neuropsychologist helps determine the intellectual, cognitive and personality functioning of the individual. The neuropsychologist may also provide family counseling to encourage better adjustment to the new disability.

Behavioral Health
As a patient of the Acute Rehabilitation Center, behavioral health professionals may meet with patients for counseling to help in dealing with the emotional impact of their illness or injury and to help promote more effective coping skills.  This service is also available for the spouse and family members while the patient is in the hospital, as well as for both the patient and family after the patient has been discharged.

Respiratory Therapy
Skilled in abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system, the respiratory therapist works with the team to help control and alleviate respiratory problems and to teach the rehabilitation patient how to achieve the highest functional capacity to carry out the activities of daily living.

Pastoral Services
Pastoral staff are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to meet with patients and their families.