REHABILITATION STAFF JOB DEFINITIONS

The following is a list of descriptions explaining the role of the many team members who may be involved in patient rehabilitation.

Doctor/Physiatrist
A physiatrist is a doctor that specializes in physical rehabilitation medicine. The physiatrist is the attending physician (the doctor in charge of the patient's rehabilitation) and the person in charge of the care team. He or she is responsible for patients' treatment and care while they are in Carolinas Rehabilitation.

Resident Physician
A resident physician is a doctor in advanced training in the specialty of physiatry, or rehabilitation medicine.

Nurse
A registered nurse (R.N.) oversees the patients' care 24 hours a day. The R.N. works with the therapy team to promote patients' healing and independence.

Audiologist
An Audiologist tests a person's hearing, and can recommend ways for persons with hearing loss to deal with those particular challenges.

Chaplain
Our chaplain offers spiritual and emotional support to the patient and their family. He or she provides nondenominational pastoral care and conducts chapel services on Sunday.

Clinical Care Coordinator
A clinical care coordinator oversees the entire course of treatment. The coordinator may need to talk with the patient's insurance representative regarding the rehabilitation progress. This person is also responsible for setting up any rehabilitation services the patient may need following his or her stay at the hospital.

Clinical Social Worker
A clinical care social worker establishes contact with the patient/family as soon as possible following the patient's admission to provide supportive counseling and to obtain social data, including preliminary discharge plans. This information helps the clinical care management team to identify resources, problems and barriers that may affect discharge planning.

Cognitive Education Specialist
A cognitive education specialists helps people regain thinking and memory skills. They also help with practical daily skills, such as managing a checkbook. For younger patients, cognitive education specialists work with the school system to help them return to school.

Dietician
A dietician understands that what people eat affects their health. Dieticians evaluate the patient's nutrition needs and plan a diet that is right for him or her. Also, the dietician will teach the patient about nutrition and a special diet might be recommended. Patients learn about food choices so that they can improve eating habits and health.

Neuropsychologist
A neuropsychologist specializes in the study of the relationship between a person's brain and its performance. The neuropsychologist uses tests to tell how well different parts of the brain are working after an injury or illness. This helps the patient's care team understand any strengths or weaknesses that they might have with the patient's ability to perform everyday skills for living and working. This helps the team plan the patient's treatment, discharge and follow-up care and goals.

Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist helps the patient regain everyday skills that might have been lost because of an injury or illness. The occupational therapist will help with everyday activities like eating, brushing teeth, cooking and housework. They also work on the problem-solving skills needed for managing a home or working.

Physical Therapist
A physical therapist helps with the body's recovery after a patient's accident or illness. The physical therapist helps with muscle strength, movement of the joints and more complicated body skills such as sitting, walking and balance, or the use of a walker or wheelchair.

Psychologist
A psychologist evaluates and treats problems with thinking, behavior and feelings. Illness or injury can affect the way the patient thinks and acts, and often affects the way that they feel. The psychologist helps the patient and family understand and accept these changes.

Respiratory Therapist
A respiratory therapist helps with any breathing problems that the patient might have after an injury or illness. The respiratory therapist sets up any special equipment patients needed for breathing and teaches the patient and family about its care and use.

Speech Therapist
A speech therapist (or more properly, the speech-language pathologist) helps with speaking, listening, reading and writing problems. In addition, he or she helps patients who have swallowing problems or who have difficulties in thinking and memory. When patients have speaking problems, the speech therapist helps the patient and family develop other ways to "talk" with each other.

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
A recreation therapist uses patients' hobbies and interests to help them regain skills and enjoyment in life. They also help patients learn how to find and use opportunities in the community for fun and relaxation.

Certified Vocational Evaluator
A certified vocational evaluator helps the patient explore work related opportunities. The certified vocational evaluator helps patients decide about returning to a job, or may help them choose a new job. Certified vocational evaluators can assess patients' skills with a job or employer in their community.

Vocational Service Specialist
A vocational service specialists can help the patient prepare for, find or maintain a job. They can help with development of skills and work habits that will make the patient a successful employee. A patient may get help with job seeking skills or locating an employer willing to make accommodations for any physical limitations that he or she may have. The vocational service specialist can work with the patient on the job as a job coach and explore ways to ensure success on the job.