Outpatient Rehabilitation Care
RIC Outpatient Centers
Every Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) Outpatient Center is led by a physiatrist – a doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Working alongside the doctors are registered nurses, licensed physical and occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists and assistants.
All RIC doctors, nurses and therapists have extensive experience treating a broad range of conditions. Many of our therapists are also certified in specialties such as pain management, sports medicine and arthritis care. Their expertise matters because studies have shown that professionals who treat a larger number of cases of a given condition achieve better patient outcomes.
In addition to physicians and therapists, RIC’s staff includes dozens of other professionals with expertise in specialty treatments, therapies and other services, such as acupuncture, aquatic therapy, assistive technology and psychology. Together, they can provide the right combination of care for you.
Listening to Patients and Sharing Knowledge
At RIC, the first thing we do is listen. We want to know how your condition affects your life, what you hope to accomplish through rehabilitation and any concerns you may have. We also want to hear the concerns and questions of any family members involved in the patient’s care.
The next step is patient education. Helping you understand how your body works and what the treatment is designed to accomplish makes therapy more effective.
Treatment Plans Tailored to Your Individual Needs
At RIC, much of the success patients' achieve is the result of tailoring each treatment plan to the individual. We respect the fact that each patient’s needs and goals are different. For someone with a stroke, the goal might be to speak clearly again. For a person with arthritis, the goal might be restoring flexibility so they can work in their garden. For an athlete with a knee injury, the goal may be to restore peak performance. The goals you set will help determine your individual treatment plan.
Reaching Goals
Often, the effectiveness of therapy depends on repetition, and most patients will be provided with exercises to do at home. Your therapist will make sure that you understand what you are being asked to do to maximize your potential for progress.
Getting Back to Your Life
A team approach, involving patients, families, therapists and the referring physician, is especially important in helping patients to continue to make progress after their formal rehabilitation care has been completed. Part of our responsibility is making sure that patients are given the necessary information to continue to manage their condition successfully.
Challenging Conditions, Effective Treatments
RIC has an unrivalled reputation for expertise in a wide range of physical rehabilitation needs at every level of care. From the most complex brain and spinal cord injuries, to congenital and chronic conditions and common conditions such as back pain and joint replacement, RIC can provide the right care at the right time. Patients and families can have confidence in our ability to provide the best in healing and hope.
RIC also offers specialty programs and community services to meet even the most diverse needs of our patients, to ensure they achieve the best life possible.
RIC Outpatient Centers Throughout the City and Suburbs
Every RIC Outpatient Center is staffed and equipped to meet the rehabilitation needs of most patients. To serve patients better, there are RIC Outpatient Centers at convenient locations across the city and suburbs.