Skilled Rehabilitative Services for Medically Complex Conditions, Including Cancer

Medically complex illnesses and injuries often affect multiple organ systems, considerably limiting a person’s ability to function. Patients with these conditions require ongoing care from highly skilled providers, including specialized rehabilitation when it’s time for a patient to be moved out of the hospital and into recovery. Penn State Health provides experienced, interdisciplinary rehabilitative care for medically complex conditions, including congestive heart failure, left ventricular assist device, organ (heart, liver, renal) transplantation, tracheostomy status, end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis, wounds and cancer, at Penn State Health Rehabilitation Hospital.

Successful Rehabilitation, Regardless of the Challenges

Despite the challenges that often come with treating medically complex conditions, our team is trained and equipped to provide restorative care to patients with unique needs, such as those with left ventricular assist devices, on hemodialysis and who have undergone transplant surgery. Importantly, our physicians work very closely with the referring providers. Once patients are in our care, very few need to be moved back into the hospital, which means they get to go home sooner, where they can continue their recovery in a familiar environment.

Customized Cancer Rehabilitation Program

Our services include a cancer rehabilitation program dedicated to improving the physical and emotional health of patients after cancer treatment. This program offers personalized rehabilitation services guided by each patient’s needs, and includes the management of cancer-related pain and fatigue, anemia, neutropenia, bone metastasis, chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy, radiation fibrosis syndrome, cervical dystonia, trismus, lymphedema therapy, nutrition and physical therapy for cancer-related side effects.

Why Choose Penn State Health for Medically Complex and Cancer Rehabilitation

Physicians With Decades of Experience

The rehabilitation physicians, called physiatrists, at Penn State Health Rehabilitation Hospital have decades of experience and expertise in treating patients with medically complex rehabilitation needs. We have internal medicine and nephrology onsite consultation. This high level of experience produces the best possible outcomes for our patients.

Interdisciplinary Care Team

Our team provides interdisciplinary care, giving patients access to the widest range of therapies to improve their outcomes. Directed by our knowledgeable physiatrists, our multidisciplinary care team includes physical and occupational therapists, neuropsychologists, nutritionists, nurses and recreational therapists. We always identify and address the barriers to community discharges.

Support Groups

Support groups provide an opportunity to share your feelings and connect with other patients and caregivers who are experiencing similar struggles.

Learn more about support groups offered