Rehabilitation

To ensure the continuity of superior care, Pinnacle therapists provide both inpatient and outpatient services at all our Oregon facilities. Focusing mainly on the geriatric population, we work closely with referral sources to provide an ongoing relationship and seamless care.

Pinnacle Healthcare's in-house rehabilitation services were formed in 1999 with 20 therapists in six facilities and have grown to include over 100 therapists in ten facilities. Our extraordinary growth can be attributed to the success of our patients and the creative thinking of our therapists who continue to develop innovative programs that improve the functionality and quality of life for our patients.

With innovative benefits packages promoting education, Pinnacle encourages employees to become recognized certified specialists in their area of expertise and to develop existing and new techniques through ongoing education programs, outside courses and state-of-the-art equipment.

Our facilities are designed to provide a home-like environment for our residents and employees. At Pinnacle, rehabilitation is taken to a new level, providing services and compassion not usually found in the long-term care setting and establishing a high standard for others to achieve. In addition to standard rehabilitation programs, we offer:

Physiatrists
One of the most unique and successful offerings on our menu of rehabilitation services is the close partnership we share with a local physiatrist (a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation). Physiatrists lead weekly case management meetings with our patients and therapists to optimize medical and pharmaceutical intervention with therapy goals and plans of care. Our consulting physiatrists track the progress of all rehabilitation patients and provide guidance to improve overall quality of care.

REACH Program
(Revealing Extremity Activity Changing Habits)
Always on the forefront of new treatments, Pinnacle Healthcare developed Oregon's first outpatient program for stroke rehabilitation based on constraint induced therapy research. Established in 2002, the REACH Program is a therapeutic intervention used after a brain injury that has seriously damaged an arm. It focuses on improving the functional mobility of the impaired arm by limiting the use of the stronger arm.

The program has been incredibly successful and restores functionality for many participants. In cooperation with the University of Oregon Department of Exercise and Movement Science, participants have also taken part in research analyzing brain changes associated with the REACH program. Pinnacle therapists have published two articles about REACH
(June 9, 2003 Advance for Physical Therapists & PT Assistants and May 3, 2004 Advance for Occupational Therapy Practitioners) and given presentations at several conferences.

For additional information on the REACH Program, please click here.

Lite Gate
The Lite Gate System of body weight supported gait therapy (BWSGT) treatment uses a mechanical lift to support a patient over a treadmill or level ground which allows the therapist to increase emphasis on gait quality and enables the patient to spend more time on a rehabilitation activity than is possible through conventional methods.

For additional information on The Lite Gate System, please click here.

BWSGT, which helps improve walking functionality in patients with neurological injuries, hip fractures and amputations, has been incorporated in many of our facilities and continually improves our patients’ rehabilitation outcomes.

Infrared Therapy
Infrared therapy is the use of photo energy at specific wavelengths to reduce pain and increase circulation. Utilizing light emitting diodes in direct contact with the skin, this non-invasive procedure produces a localized increase in nitric oxide which, in turn, improves nerve function and increases angiogenesis. This procedure, when combined with general physical or occupational therapy, has been successful in treating patients with loss of protective sensation, decreased circulation and pain due to peripheral neuropathy, as well as gait disturbances and fear of falling. It is also being successful at treating non-healing wounds and is provided on an inpatient and outpatient basis.

Osteoporosis Prevention
Osteoporosis is a progressive disease that causes a loss of bone strength and increases the risk of developing fractures. Pinnacle Healthcare therapists have pioneered several community-based wellness programs aimed at reversing the crippling effects of osteoporosis and increasing bone density. We offer exercise classes—many free—in our facilities, community senior centers and assisted living centers.

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