What Does A Physiatrist Do During Short-Term Rehabilitation?

If you or a loved one is recovering from an illness, injury, or a stay in the hospital, your care team often includes a bevy of care staff, including nurses, therapists, support staff, and more. The team may also include a specialized doctor called a physiatrist.

A physiatrist is a physician that oversees the rehabilitation of patients after illness or injury, often in specialized settings, such as skilled nursing. Officially known as a physical medication and rehabilitation doctor, a physiatrist generally takes an entire-body approach to medicine rather than specializing in a single body system, such as a neurologist or cardiologist. 

If you need short term rehabilitation in Utah, Monument Health employs some of the best physiatrists in the business. Give us a call today to ask any questions you may have or to schedule a tour of one of our facilities.

What Is A Physiatry Doctor?

A physiatrist, officially a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor or PM&R physician, is a doctor specializing in redhibitory medicine. They help plan, oversee, and support the entire rehabilitation process of patients, often in settings such as skilled nursing and inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

What a physiatrist does in a setting varies by the exact type of facility, but usually they act as the attending physician who directs overall plan care, helps coordinate nurses and support staff, such as physical therapists, addresses medical concerns, and prescribes medication, if necessary.

A physiatrist differs from other rehabilitation providers in that they are often involved less in the day-to-day mechanics of therapy and rather are tasked with taking a bird’s-eye view of treatment and total care. Their job is to ensure oversight over the entire medical and redhibitory process, while making recommendations on care plans.
How Does A Physiatrist Coordinate With Nurses, Therapists, And Other Specialists?

One of the most important jobs of a physiatrist is to coordinate care with other medical staff, both within skilled nursing settings and with your broader care team. Often, the physiatrist is the hub or axle of that team, acting as a central point of care and decision making.

For example, they will likely meet regularly with nurses to determine the progression of injuries or medical conditions, conference with therapists to understand therapeutic progression, or communicate with your outside medical team to ensure continuity of care.
 
They will also perform an initial evaluation of your conditions and set goals for rebab, help manage any pain and other symptoms that may interfere with treatment, and monitor for any complications, such as blood clots, swelling, etc.

Your physiatrist will also make evaluations as your therapy and conditions progress. Since no two bodies are the same, and recovery is rarely perfectly linear, your physiatrist will help adjust course for the best and quickest outcomes. 

How Does Physiatry Support A Personalized Recovery Plan?

At Monument Health, every one of our patients receives a personalized recovery plan that ensures they receive the help they need when they need it. Since no two patients are the same, we do not do one-size-fits-all recovery, and when you choose us, you can be certain you’ll be treated as an individual rather than a number.

A physiatrist helps underwrite this process and philosophy. A large part of their position is to ensure you or your loved ones are getting the unique care you need, to make changes to that care when it can be improved or conform more closely to your needs, and manage any other health issues, so you can focus on getting back to normal.

Especially during short-term rehabilitation, when the goal is efficient rehabilitation and outside timelines may need adherence, a physiatrist helps you and your medical team make the best use of your time.  

When Might A Patient Benefit From Physician-Led Rehabilitation Care?

Nearly anyone who is in recovery from serious illness or injury can benefit from physician-led care. Having a physician overseeing care can often help ensure personalization, continuity, and efficiency of care, while also ensuring health issues receive the proper attention.

Skilled nursing is particularly beneficial for patients who have complex medical issues requiring around-the-clock, specialized care from a mixed healthcare team, including nurses and physicians.

How Can Monument Health Help You With Short-Term Rehabilitation?

If you or someone you love may need short-term rehabilitation or skilled nursing care, contact Monument Health today. We are Utah’s premier provider of skilled nursing care and are looking forward to helping you and your family achieve the best healthcare outcomes possible.