For Patients
Procedures and Programs
Clinics
History
The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine was established in 1966. In 1977, the University of Wisconsin Medical School gave full support to the development of an expanded Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in order to deliver physical medicine and rehabilitation services to the State of Wisconsin, including patient care, undergraduate education, graduate education and research.
In January 2002, the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine merged with the Division of Orthopedic Surgery to form the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation. There has always been good cooperation between these two groups of physicians, and this merger formalizes the relationship.
Rehabilitation and Orthopedics staffs have worked closely together to establish the UW Spine Center and improve the caliber of musculoskeletal medicine and neurorehabilitation. Residents may rotate through clinic with various orthopedic surgeons as part of their training. The merger also brings greater support for rehabilitation research than we could previously provide, with increased administrative support and faculty involvement in research.
Staff
Rehabilitation Medicine now has 13 physiatrists working at various UW-Health facilities, including the University of Wisconsin Hospital, the UW-Health Rehabilitation Clinics building in Middleton, and the UW Research Park and East Clinic outpatient facilities. Clinical psychologists provide counseling and support services at these facilities. Clinical faculty members also attend at affiliated hospitals, including Gundersen Clinic/LaCrosse Lutheran Hospital.
Members of the comprehensive rehabilitation team are represented on the faculty of the Section of Rehabilitation. The disciplines included are:
Physiatry and Pediatric Physiatry
Clinical Psychology
Physical Therapy
Neurophysiology
Vocational Rehabilitation
Speech Pathology
The Rehabilitation Services Division also encompasses:
Occupational Therapy
Rehabilitation Nursing
Social Services
Orthotics
Recreational Therapy
Pharmacy
Dietetics
The inpatient program has grown to twenty-two beds in addition to several
available beds on the pediatric ward. In addition, an inpatient program
for up to four respiratory-dependent patients was developed in conjunction
with the pulmonary service in October 1984.
Categorical programs for spinal cord injury, brain dysfunction, chronic pain, and pediatric rehabilitation have been established in cooperation with other medical school and hospital departments.
As part of the University community, our doctors are on the forefront of new techniques to improve patient care. They have completed rigorous training and specialty fellowships, and many are renowned across the country or around the world as leaders in their respective disciplines.
This section provides in-depth information on some of the specialized procedures, programs, and clinics we offer. Click on a topic to learn more.
Rehabilitation UW Department of Orthopedics
and Rehabilitation
First published: 12/25/02 Last updated: 11/22/09 webmaster@ortho.wisc.edu
Copyright © 2005 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System