MedStar Health: Inpatient Rehabilitation Services at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital

• Independence Square®, a simulated “real world” community designed to teach patients the skills needed for independent living. The expansive therapy space simulates a neighborhood with a bank, diner, gas station and a fully functional home with kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.
• The Therapeutic Garden with its Victory of the Human Spirit® sculpture fountain located on the picturesque hospital grounds.
• The nearby Mobil Fitness Court, giving patients the opportunity for informal basketball and tennis.
• The hospital’s Ruth S. Willoughby Playground, which features fully accessible equipment that gives children an inviting place for play and therapy.

Why choose us

Since opening the doors of our rehabilitation hospital in 1986, we've become Washington D.C.'s “go-to” resource for men, women, and children with disabilities, helping them enrich their lives through expert rehabilitation, sports and leisure activities, education, advocacy and emotional support.

Here you'll find:

• An interdisciplinary team of experts, including rehabilitation medicine specialists, psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, rehabilitation nurses, and others working collaboratively to design treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs. This collaborative approach in a hospital setting allows us to provide complex care to help improve immediate recovery and long-term outcomes.
• Advanced rehabilitation technology that we've designed and refined, including:
  • Robotic exoskeletons to build strength and coordination in people with spinal cord injuries
  • The NRH-designed revolutionary ZeroG® system—the first-ever dynamic overground body-weight support system designed to help patients learn to walk again by creating a zero-gravity environment
• Internationally-respected leaders in rehabilitation research who are discovering and implementing the treatments of the future. Through this research, we offer our patients the option to participate in advanced treatment studies that may improve their recovery beyond the standard treatments available elsewhere and prevent problems associated with their particular injury.
• A respected center for the education of rehabilitation professionals, fostering career development through continuing education, internships, residencies, clinical rotations, and fellowships. More than 2000 students pass through our doors each year.
• An active advocacy program, which plays a prominent role in increasing access and opportunity for millions of Americans with disabilities. We're also a proud partner of U.S. Paralympics and BlazeSports America, serving as the region's hub for adaptive sports programs for children and adults.
• Seamless access to comprehensive and coordinated services throughout our inpatient and outpatient facilities. By offering many services that were once provided in a structured inpatient environment in outpatient settings, our patients can access the services they need right in their community.
• Patient- and family-centered care that emphasizes connection and empowerment through education, support groups, and unique mentoring programs.