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Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation services at HRMC Experiencing a serious accident, athletic injury or illness can make simple tasks, such as tying your shoes, walking across a room or even communicating, difficult to accomplish. HRMC’s rehabilitation team understands returning to your daily activities is an important goal for you. HRMC's rehabilitation services are here for you to help you one step, one word at a time by providing a wide range of services that can help you reach your maximum ability and independence as quickly and safely as possible.

HRMC offers rehabilitation services on an inpatient and outpatient basis. An order from your personal physician must be obtained for all therapy assessments to be completed.

For more information, please contact us or call 605-353-6253.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists tailor rehabilitation according to your specific needs and abilities, following specifications given by your physician. Not only do the therapists treat injuries, but they are also experts in movement and function, teaching exercises and techniques for prevention of reinjury. In addition to muscular therapy, our physical therapists provide therapies and treatments in other areas, like:

Injury and post orthopedic surgical therapy,
Low back pain,
Imbalance and fall education,
Vestibular (inner ear/balance),
Pelvic alignment and SI (sacroilliac) joint therapy,
Lymphedema therapy
Aquatic therapy is available for patients when traditional weight-bearing therapy is not feasible,
Wound care services,
UV light treatment for skin diseases, such as psoriasis,
Work with children with developmental delays by providing exercises and therapeutic activities, and
Worksite assessments, including ergonomics and repetitive-motion injury prevention.

Medicare, Medicaid and other insurances typically cover physical therapy costs.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Cardiac rehabilitation is a treatment provided for people who have had a heart attack, heart surgery or treatment for heart disease (medicine, angioplasty or stent). The treatment provides education, physical rehabilitation and emotional support to speed the recovery and improve one’s ability to function on a day-today basis.

An exercise program allows the participant to rotate through different stations that help build strength and the ability to complete personal activities better. As the participant exercises, they are monitored for signs or symptoms of progress or continued heart problems.

There are three levels to cardiac rehab:

Phase I Cardiac Rehab – exercise therapy provided on an inpatient basis to help initiate activity, monitor tolerance and teach basic home activity and exercises. Medicare, Medicaid and other insurances typically cover Phase I Cardiac Rehab.
Phase II Cardiac Rehab – exercise therapy provided on an outpatient basis. Patients are monitored and typically supervised. Therapists provide education on continuing recovery, activity and diet. Therapy typically occurs three times per week for 4-12 weeks. Medicare, Medicaid and other insurances typically cover Phase II Cardiac Rehab.
Phase III Cardiac Rehab – continuation of exercise therapy for outpatients with at least two coronary risk factors (e.g., obesity, history, age or high blood pressure.) Phase III is a maintenance program that typically occurs four times per week. Therapists visually monitor progress and look for possible health issues, which may need to be referred to your physician. Patients are not monitored electronically during exercises. Phase III Cardiac Rehab is on a self-pay basis.

EECP Therapy

Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) is a non-invasive treatment that creates new blood vessels to improve circulation and reduce pain. Cardiac patients, who are not a candidate for other traditional treatment options, receive this therapy to help relieve symptoms of angina and shortness of breath.

A series of blood pressure-like cuffs are positioned from the leg calves on up to your buttocks, which contract to create collateral circulation to the heart and reduce chest pain from blockages.

Patients receive EECP therapy daily for one-hour treatment sessions, Monday through Friday, for a total of 35 treatments – average total treatment duration is approximately seven weeks. Results typically last 2-5 years. After completing EECP therapy, patients are encouraged to enroll in a Phase III Cardiac Rehab program or engage in a home exercise program.

Medicare, Medicaid and other insurances typically cover EECP therapy.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program

HRMC’s pulmonary rehab program is a six-week program that teaches patients how to reduce or control the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema, asthma, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, congestive heart failure and cystic fibrosis, in order to be able to perform daily activities. The program is suited to the individual patient’s abilities, and includes exercises that are monitored for safety that involve respiratory muscle training, breathing exercise, relaxation and panic control. HRMC’s therapists will provide you with information on:

Lung disease education.
How to properly take your medications and breathe with optimal oxygen exchange.
Energy conservation techniques to perform daily living functions with least amount of energy.
How to reduce stress.
Proper nutrition, swallowing safety, posture and gait.
Exercise techniques to help increase strength and lung capacity. Participation in a Phase III Cardiac Rehab program is recommended for strength exercising.

Medicare, Medicaid and other insurances typically cover pulmonary rehabilitation costs.

HRMC staff are also certified by the American Lung Association in tobacco cessation teaching. The instructors can provide information and assistance on developing a plan for quitting. For more information call, 605-353-6253 or visit www.sdquitline.com.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists help patients return to everyday activities we often take for granted, like cooking, dressing and bathing. By using specialized exercise programs or adaptive equipment, our therapists help increase movement, strength, endurance and independence. These treatments are provided for people who have had surgery (hip, knee, shoulder and hand), those who suffer from arthritis or a muscle or nerve disease, or those who have had an accident that causes problems completing everyday activities.

These therapies include hand therapy, cognitive retraining, developmental pediatric services, geriatric rehabilitation and activities of daily living retraining. HRMC’s therapy and education includes:

Evaluation and treatment of children or adults who have an illness or injury and would benefit from increased function in daily activities.
Treatment using functional activities (e.g., daily activities such as grooming, cooking, fine/gross motor activities, etc.)
Energy conservation, joint protection or work simplification.
Training on use of assistive devices (e.g., reacher, sock-aid, etc.) and adaptive equipment (e.g., grab bar, shower bench, etc.)
Focus on improving upper extremity strength and coordination through exercise and functional activities.
Wound care services

Medicare, Medicaid and other insurances typically cover occupational therapy.

Speech Pathology

Speech therapy is the treatment for patients (children and adults), with speech and language

disorders. HRMC’s speech pathology department offers a full program of diagnosis and treatment of patients with swallowing, speaking and thinking problems caused from injury, stroke, neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, development delays and voice problems.

By assessing the speech, language, cognitive-communication and swallowing skills, HRMC’s speech pathologists can determine what type of communication problems you have and the best way to treat these challenges. HRMC offers therapy and education that includes:

Creating sounds – If you have a consistently hoarse voice, behaviors, such as frequent throat clearing, talking too loudly or having too much tension in your throat, may be contributing to your voice problems. HRMC's speech therapist can help you to identify and change these behaviors.
Forming words – If you have experienced a stroke or other brain injury or have undergone surgery or chemotherapy, the coordination of your muscles used for speaking may have been impaired or weakened. Speech therapy can help strengthen these muscles and provide methods to modify muscle movements that produce speech sounds.
Breathing – If you have undergone a tracheotomy procedure, which inserts a tube into your windpipe to help you breathe, making sounds may be difficult. HRMC's speech therapist can assist you in developing the best techniques for communicating and adjusting to a new way of speaking.
Swallowing – A stroke, progressive neurological disease or mouth or throat cancer can affect how you consume your meals. HRMC's speech therapist will evaluate how you swallow and recommend a diet and techniques that can make swallowing easier and exercises to strengthen weak oral and throat muscles.
Volume – If you are unable to speak loudly or have a hoarse voice, this may be a result of an injury, tumor, disease, surgery or stroke. Speech therapy can teach you to adjust your pitch and increase your breathing capacity needed to make your voice more audible.

Medicare, Medicaid and other insurances typically cover speech therapy.

Wound Care

At HRMC, our team of physical therapists, registered nurses and physical therapist assistants care for individuals with a variety of acute or chronic skin care conditions, including cellulitis, dermatitis, burns, diabetic and non-diabetic ulcers, surgical wounds and swelling in extremities, just to name a few.
The trained, caring professionals from the HRMC wound care team will work with you, your family and your physician to develop a plan of care designed to heal your skin condition and wounds to get you back on track as soon as possible.

The wound care team at HRMC uses a wide range of therapies to treat chronic wounds, from special dressings and skin substitute products to ultrasound and electrical stimulation that can jumpstart the healing process. Healing chronic wounds takes more than advanced treatments and expertise – it also takes patient education.

Many people each year are affected by chronic open sores that fail to heal in a timely manner. A chronic wound is one that fails to respond to appropriate treatment in a three-month period. We customize treatments for the following types of wounds:

Diabetic foot ulcers
Venous leg ulcers
Arterial ulcers
Osteomyelitis with open wounds
Radiation-related tissue damage
Nonhealing surgical wounds
Chemical and thermal burns
Assessment of skin issues, including but not limited to vascular, arterial or neuropathic wounds, diabetic wounds, burns, trauma, rashes, pressure ulcers, moisture associated wounds and many other skin issues
Daily, weekly or as-needed wound assessment, wound care and dressing changes
Ultrasound and electrical stimulation to promote wound healing
Total Contact Cast application to off-load your foot ulcer and promote faster healing
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (commonly called wound vacuum) application and management
Individualized physical therapy plan to keep you going while your body heals
Education on the principles of wound healing and importance of medication management, good nutrition and self-care at home
Compression wrapping
Debridement
Ostomy complications

What do I need to do to receive wound care?
Most often your healthcare provider will make a referral, but patients and families may call us with questions and wound care needs. If needed, we can talk to your provider.

Who pays for services?
Typically, your insurance and Medicare benefits cover wound care services. Our staff will check for you prior to your first visit to be sure your wound care visit is covered.

For more information, call 605-353-6252, contact us online or stop by our clinic located on the third floor of the HRMC Central Tower.

Lymphedema

Lymphedema, a condition marked by swelling of the arms, legs, head or neck, is typically due to damage to the lymphatic system, which disrupts the drainage of lymph fluid, thereby causing the fluid to build up. Although there is no cure for the condition, lymphedema therapy can help patients learn to manage their symptoms.

This condition may occur for a variety of reasons including cancer, cancer treatment, surgery, injury, infection or as a complication from other medical conditions. Although swelling can be mild, for some patients, the swelling is severe enough to limit mobility. Other symptoms include recurring infection, discomfort in the affected limb and hardening of the skin.

Lymphedema therapy is a conservative treatment. It’s noninvasive, there’s no surgery, and it is not painful. The therapy includes four techniques:

Manual lymph drainage uses a massage technique to reroute the lymph fluid.
Compression bandaging, or wrapping the affected limbs, keeps the fluid out.
Skin care combats the skin breakdowns, infections and wounds to which patients with lymphedema are more susceptible.
Exercises pump the muscles within the affected limbs, which pump fluids out.

If you or a loved one suffers from swelling of the arms, legs, neck or head, contact your healthcare provider or HRMC. Lymphedema therapy is covered by Medicare and most commercial insurances. For more information, call 605-353-6252, contact us online or stop by our lymphedema clinic located on the third floor of the HRMC Central Tower.