You really get involved in all aspects of a person's life, since there is so much interaction with the patient and their families. At Hillside we have a team of people which includes physicians, physical therapists, nursing staff, occupational and speech therapists, people from psychology and other areas. We all assess the patient and look at exactly what he or she has to work with and develop a plan to make the most out of what that individual has. The biggest thing we have is experience. Spinal cord rehabilitation does not necessarily require fancy or high-tech equipment.
Experience counts for more than anything.
For Al, that experience has paid off. As a veteran, they thought about sending me to the VA hospital in Pittsburgh. Going to Hillside was the best thing for me and my family. In less than four months, I was up and weight shifting. The staff got my abdominal muscles built up so I can bend over and do things for myself.