Stroke Rehabilitation

Forsyth Medical Center's stroke rehabilitation program helps stroke survivors return to their lives, employment and families by providing a continuum of services, from comprehensive therapy to preparation for home or work re-entry.

From the first days after a stroke an interdisciplinary stroke team, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, neurological nurses, speech therapy, physicians, and dieticians provide advanced care at Forsyth Medical Center to help every patient achieve the highest level of independence possible.

Those who are ready to leave the hospital, need further medical care and exhibit good potential to improve with intensive rehabilitation may come to Forsyth Rehabilitation Center in the Whitaker building.  Forsyth Rehabilitation Center has a Stroke Specialty Program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).  Patients benefit from an experienced staff, including many Registered Nurses who have obtained advanced certification in Rehabilitation Nursing. A team approach utilizing nursing, care coordinators, physicians, social workers, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychology, and recreation therapy work to improve mobility, balance, thinking, problem solving skills, swallowing, speech, and other issues that affect transition back into the community. Others such as vocational rehabilitation counselors may be consulted as well. Treatment is directed toward increasing independence with a wheelchair or walking; activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing and housework; providing caregiver education, and improving use of affected limbs. An emphasis is put on family training and involvement to cope with changes and achieve community integration/independence.  We have great success in preparing people to return home.

Emphasis is on thorough, multidisciplinary care and customized treatment plans. Average length of stay in the inpatient rehabilitation program is 16 days, which is lower than the national average and two days less than the length of stay of other local programs.

Discharge to home percentage is also higher - 88 percent - compared to 82 percent for the other hospitals in the region and 80 percent nationally.

Treatment Goals

To reach each patient's rehab goals, we offer:

Whatever the patient's goal may be, our rehabilitative team has access to progressive therapeutic approaches that facilitate recovery and the return home.

Both Forsyth Rahabilitation Center inpatient services, in the Whitaker building, and Martinat Outpatient Rehabilitation Center use the latest in technology for stroke rehab - the Bioness H200 hand and L300 lower extremity neuroprosthetic units - to achieve functional improvement.

Outpatient Therapy

After returning home, outpatient therapy can bring further gains in independence. The Martinat Outpatient Rehabilitation Center has been providing expert care for people who have had a stroke for several decades. Specialized therapists help patients improve movement ability and coordination, as well as attain more independence in activities of daily living. Our committed staff also provides treatment to re-train thinking and problem-solving skills, and to improve speech clarity, if needed. Treatments are planned with individualized goals and may include physical, occupational and speech therapy. The Martinat Center has a strong history of helping people return to community independence. The Wellness Program promotes continued follow-through of exercises learned by offering inexpensive supervised or independent use of the Martinat facility after formal discharge from therapy.