Inpatient Rehabilitation

Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute

U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals for rehabilitation

Nationally Ranked in Rehabilitation

UT Southwestern Medical Center is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s top 15 hospitals for rehabilitative care.




UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Program is one of the nation's premier neurological hospital treatment centers, specializing in stroke, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputations, and others. Our physicians are board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, while our therapists and nurses have specialty training in various areas of rehabilitation.

Learn more about our program.

For general information about Inpatient Rehab, please read our FAQs.

What Is Inpatient Rehabilitation?

Inpatient rehabilitation provides intensive therapy and medical care for people recovering from serious illnesses, injuries, or surgeries. Patients receive coordinated treatment from a multidisciplinary team, including physicians, nurses, and therapists, while participating in at least three hours of therapy each day. The goal is to help patients regain strength, mobility, and independence before returning home or transitioning to another level of care.

Why Choose UT Southwestern for Inpatient Rehabilitation?

Our mission is to help patients achieve the highest level of independence, using the most advanced therapies available.

Patients admitted to the Inpatient Rehabilitation units participate in three hours of therapy per day (or at least 15 hours per week) with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and/or speech therapy, depending on their needs.

The rehabilitation team also educates patients about the challenges they face and trains families in necessary supportive skills. The program emphasizes the provision of follow-up services to maintain and improve patients’ levels of function, safety, and independence.

A discharge plan that includes community resources and facility services is developed by the rehabilitation team to identify opportunities to further patients’ rehabilitation process.

Adaptive Sports Expo and Symposium

CARF Accredited

Accreditation

We are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in the following specialties:

  • Comprehensive Rehabilitation
  • Stroke Specialty Program
  • Spinal Cord Specialty Program
  • Brain Injury Specialty Program

UT Southwestern Medical Center was also designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, and we are recognized as a Magnet Designated Hospital, the highest honor awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Image Here

Guest and Patient Services Desk

Guest and Patient Services is available in the main lobby of Zale Lipshy Pavilion – William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Services include wayfinding assistance within the hospital, wheelchair support, and valet services. Information on accommodations, transportation, hair care appointments, food deliveries, guest trays, floral arrangements, and other related services can be provided here.

Our representatives are dedicated to ensuring that hospital stays and visits are as comfortable and pleasant as possible for each guest and patient.

Image Here

Activity Room

This space is dedicated for therapies to facilitate social, mobility, and recreational activities. They include, but are not limited to, hobbies, sports, and educational workshops that encourage patient socialization and support overall well-being. An example of this is our weekly pet therapy sessions.

Image Here

Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Suite

This area is designed to simulate the home environment, with a standard bed, a dining table, a couch, a wardrobe, and a bathroom. The goal is to help patients adjust to lifestyle changes and demonstrate the necessary functional tasks required to be safely discharged home.

Image Here

Gym

Our renovated gym is inside a large sunroom setting that enhances the therapeutic experience by connecting individuals with nature, which is known to have positive effects on mood and recovery.

This space features top-of-the-line gym equipment, including an h/p/cosmos locomotion treadmill system with body weight support. The gym’s ZeroG weight support system is one of the most advanced robotic body-weight support networks available. It is designed to help individuals with mobility impairments or those undergoing rehabilitation to maintain balance and support.

Image Here

Nurses Stations

The nurses stations are centrally located on each unit, providing a clear view of the hallways and patient rooms. They are a hub of activity, where nurses collaborate on patient care with physicians, therapists, patients, family, and other staff members on our multidisciplinary team.

Image Here

Community Dining Room

This versatile area serves as a therapeutic dining space to facilitate social engagement among the patients. The goal is to foster interaction among peers in a space where patients are supervised and treated for swallowing disorders or difficulty feeding themselves.

This area also provides patients and family members a place to visit and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Dallas skyline.

Image Here

Patient Rooms

Each private patient room is designed for comfort and features soft cream-colored walls that create a calm, inviting atmosphere. A vibrant piece of art adds a cheerful touch. The room includes seating for visitors, with a window bench seat that can be converted into an overnight accommodation for a family member.

Image Here

Kitchen and Laundry Area

The fully functional kitchen includes an oven, dishwasher, and refrigerator. Patients often use this area for practicing meal preparation skills, and cooking therapy groups occur weekly here.

Additionally, patients have access to a laundry area available in the corner that features a user-friendly washer and dryer.

Image Here

Patient Bathroom

Each patient room includes a private, en-suite bathroom designed to support hygiene, comfort, and dignity.

These bathrooms are equipped with a toilet, sink, and shower, and are thoughtfully designed for accessibility and safety.

Features such as strategically placed grab bars and spacious layouts ensure ease of use for patients with varying mobility needs.

What Conditions Are Treated at the Inpatient Rehabilitation Center?

UT Southwestern has extensive experience in the treatment of numerous conditions and disorders that require inpatient rehabilitation, such as:

What Therapies and Treatments Are Provided at the Inpatient Rehabilitation Center?

The UT Southwestern treatment team – including physicians, therapists, and registered nurses who have specialty training in rehabilitation – custom designs a treatment program for each patient, which can include one-on-one therapy, team activities, and various medical treatments.

We offer a variety of therapies, such as:

  • Nutritional counseling
  • Respiratory therapy
  • Family rounds

Patients benefit from the latest technologies and advancements in rehabilitative medicine and an exceptional level of support. Our treatments include:

  • Ekso exoskeleton: Wearable machine to promote mobility after stroke or spinal cord injury
  • Body-weight support system with treadmill: A weight-bearing device that supports patients undergoing rehabilitative treatment by adding stability
  • Biofeedback: A technique that teaches patients to control their bodily functions
  • Bioness H200: A device that delivers mild electrical stimulation for rehabilitating the hand
  • Bioness L300: A device that delivers mild electrical stimulation for rehabilitating the foot
  • LiteGait: A weight-bearing device that supports mobility and walking
  • VitalStim: A device that delivers mild electrical stimulation to help patients with difficulty swallowing
  • SaeboFlex: Orthotics that help position hands and wrists
  • Nintendo Wii therapy: Motion, balance, and coordination therapy using video games

Inpatient Rehabilitation at UT Southwestern

This video highlights UTSW O'Donnell Brain Institute's Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation's Inpatient Rehabilitation Program. It demonstrates what patients might expect during their stay, and who might benefit from utilizing this program.

About the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit

Request a Tour of Our Facility

UT Southwestern’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit is a 47-bed facility located on the sixth and eighth floors of Zale Lipshy Pavilion – William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital. The unit provides 24/7 rehabilitation nursing care to patients age 18 or older. Exceptions for patients under 18 are made on a case-by-case basis.

  • Therapy services are available seven days a week, generally from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Social work services are available Monday through Friday, generally from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Care coordination services are available Monday through Friday, generally from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
  • Psychology services are available Monday through Friday, generally from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Inpatient Rehabilitation units offer private patient rooms and suites, fully equipped therapy gyms, a dining room, and a team conference room. In addition, a specialized “activities of daily living” room allows patients to practice daily living skills before returning home, such as making a bed, preparing a meal, or doing laundry.

Related Conditions and Treatments

See More