Stroke Rehabilitation

As one of the busiest stroke inpatient rehabilitation programs in the Washington, D.C., and Maryland region, we care for hundreds of adults recovering from stroke every year. The intensive recovery program involves at least three hours of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and/or speech therapy five days per week. Our goal is to help patients become as functionally independent as possible while addressing their physical, emotional, and cognitive needs.

Program highlights

Under the direction of a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physician, our occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, nurses, psychologists, and case managers provide guidance and encouragement to help stroke patients “retrain the brain.” Care begins with an evaluation of the patient’s injury and impairments. Because stroke can affect different parts of the brain, each person’s treatment plan is tailored to the patient's specific needs.

The stroke rehabilitation team also involves the patient and their caregivers as they collaborate to develop short- and long-term goals. The team works in an interdisciplinary fashion, with daily meetings to review and reexamine the progress of these goals, which may include improvement in walking, speech, memory, dressing, bathing, and other activities of daily living.

To help achieve these goals, our program offers*:

• Individual and group therapy, providing patients the opportunity to practice skills in different environments and to share their experiences with others

• The latest technologies and tools to safely help patients learn to walk again, including the ZeroG®—a robotic gait and balance training system—EKSO exoskeletons, electrical stimulation devices, and DIEGO, one of the most advanced upper extremity rehabilitation devices available

• Focused training to help family members and caregivers understand the potential changes in their loved one's behavior, ambulation, communication, and ability to care for themselves

• Holistic services, including spiritual care for all patients, families, and caregivers and psychological support from a neuropsychologist

• 24/7 medical care from nurses with specialty training in stroke care

• Support groups for stroke survivors to connect with and encourage one another

• Patient and family education on preventing recurrent stroke and addressing the challenges of life after stroke to help prepare caregivers for the patients’ needs

• Orthotics, braces, seating, mobility, and rehabilitation engineering services onsite

• Opportunities for patients to participate in clinical trials offered at MedStar Health or through one of our research partners

• Stroke Support Group- The MedStar Health Stroke Support Group is for individuals who have had a stroke and their significant others. Members gather for educational programs and social activities. Meetings include informative sessions on stroke-related topics, such as nutrition and stress management. Topics change with each meeting, and membership is free.
  Virtual meetings are held the first Thursday of each month from 1 p.m. to  2:30 p.m., using Microsoft Teams. Register in advance to receive the meeting link. To register, call 443-777-7900 or send us an email.

   

*Services and technologies may vary by location

We offer outpatient rehabilitation services to continue helping stroke survivors reach their highest levels of independence after inpatient stroke rehabilitation. In other instances, patients who sustained a mild stroke may transition directly to home with the support of outpatient therapy.

With more than 50 outpatient facilities throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia, patients won't have to travel far to continue receiving stroke support as they resume active roles within their families and communities.

Program highlights

Outpatient therapies are designed to help patients continue improving functional independence. Each person’s treatment plan is individualized, but most patients will engage in several therapies, including:

• Physical therapy to improve mobility and strength
• Occupational therapy to help patients relearn the skills of daily living, such as dressing and bathing
• Speech therapy to deal with any challenges with language, thinking, or swallowing

Support group

Stroke survivors and their families and friends are invited to attend our free support group. Find an upcoming virtual event:

Stroke Support Group (Virtual) through MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital 

Research

We are one of few rehabilitation hospital networks in the country investing in cutting-edge research supported by federal, foundation, and philanthropic partners. Our physicians are leaders of the Stroke Capital Area Network for Research (SCANR) and designated by the National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Stroke as one of 27 StrokeNet sites in the U.S. Through this research, we offer patients the opportunity to participate in clinical trials that can improve stroke recovery beyond the standard treatments available today. For example, ongoing research at MedStar NRH is examining ways to boost neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to heal itself after injury. It’s an exciting new field that is helping to improve rehabilitation for stroke and other brain injuries.