Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services to restore mobility and function, so you can safely return to the life you love.
Experts in Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation
At HaysMed, we offer inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, always with the goal of optimizing function and restoring your quality of life. While in the hospital or after you return home, we can help you get back to the life you love.
Whether that means adjusting to your life after illness, injury or surgery – or whether it involves learning how to walk again, managing pain, returning to work – we will develop an individualized treatment plan designed just for you.
With our full staff of physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and athletic trainers all working under the guidance of specialized physicians, our rehabilitation expertise can be a real game changer in your recovery. We specialize in treating patients who are dealing with:
- Sports and recreational injuries
- Post-surgical repairs
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Arthritis
- Joint replacements
- Amputations
- Myofascial syndromes and chronic pain disorders
- Stroke
- Spinal cord injuries
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Vertigo and other balance/vestibular disorders
Appointment Hours:
Monday: Thursday: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
Friday: 7:00 am to 4:30 pm
For more information or to make an appointment, call 785-623-5691.
Outpatient Rehabilitation
Our outpatient rehabilitation services at the Center for Health Improvement are provided by a highly trained, expert team committed to giving patients the most comprehensive, personalized care possible. Our outpatient rehab team consists of highly qualified professionals from a variety of healthcare fields, including physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, athletic trainers, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and speech-language pathologists. Our comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation program gives every patient the opportunity to work with clinicians who have the specific knowledge and skills to best treat each individual injury and disorder.
Our rehabilitation team specializes in treating function impairments, including:
- Sports and recreational injuries
- Post-surgical repairs
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Arthritis
- Joint replacements
- Amputations
- Myofascial syndromes and chronic pain disorders
- Stroke
- Spinal cord injuries
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Vertigo and other balance/vestibular disorders
Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities
Our outpatient rehabilitation program occupies roughly 8,000 square feet of the Center for Health Improvement at HaysMed. This area is designed to provide the highest-quality equipment and space. The rehab facility also features state-of-the-art equipment to meet the needs of any patients, including:
- Private and semi-private treatment rooms
- Handicapped-accessible equipment
- Treatment gym with treatment tables, bikes, recumbent bikes, upper body bikes, treadmills, Nustep, Elliptical, resistance training equipment, and balance training equipment
- Biodex treatment equipment room with Isokinetic system useful in performing strength assessments, strength training, isometric training, and range of motion stretching
- Traction treatment room with a private treatment room for cervical and pelvic mechanical traction
- Activities of Daily Living (ADL) treatment room designed to allow patients to practice the skills they may need to function independently at home
- Low Vision/Neuro treatment with a private treatment room allowing limited distractions to assist patients in focusing on tasks to improve recovery
- FCA/JPA treatment room used to determine return-to-work status of injured clients and for pre-employment screening to assess a potential worker’s ability to meet job demands
- Balance Master treatment room which houses the state-of-the-art Smart Balance Master developed by NASA to assist astronauts in reacclimating to earth’s gravity (now available for use in the retraining of balance and vestibular systems using specialized computer technology)
- Hand care room offering treatment with custom-fit, comfortable hand/finger/elbow splints to improve range of motion and protect joints; and fluidotherapy for gentle and effective dry heat to progress stretching and flexibility of joints
- Basketball gymnasium used for progressing patient back to sports or recreational activities while under rehabilitation supervision
- Aquatic Rehabilitation with access to two pools:
- Lap Pool with competition size pool – ranging in depth from 4′ to 5’6″ – used for high level patients
- Therapy pool, which is a smaller pool with depth from 3’6″ to 4’6″, with warmer water temperature (92 degrees) to promote relaxation and provide a more comfortable environment for exercise
At HaysMed, our comprehensive outpatient rehab services offer a variety of subspecialized programs to meet your unique needs. These programs include:
Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
For many people, specialized rehabilitation services are an important part of recovering from and managing cardiac and cardiopulmonary issues. As your destination for excellence in cardiology, the DeBakey Heart Institute at HaysMed offers comprehensive, patient-centered rehabilitation programs to meet your needs.
Learn more about cardiopulmonary rehab care at HaysMed.
For more information about all rehabilitation programs at HaysMed or to make an appointment, call 785-623-5691.
Occupational Therapists
Brett Johnson, MOTR/L
Leslie Olmstead, OTR/L
Physical Therapists
Amanda Nelson, PT, DPT, CLT
Janna Manning, PT
Lindsey Dreiling, PT
Matthew Jenkins, PT, DPT, CSCS
Teresa Heimann, PT
Whitney Ford, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist Assistants
Ashley Lutters, PTA
Bob McAnany, PTA
Joyce Rupp, PTA
Kelly Brungardt, PTA, CLT
Melissa Johnson, PTA
Speech Therapist
Jessica Feldt, MS, CCC-SLP
Vestibular Balance Training
Balance is one of the most essential and automatic functions in life. It is key in our relationship to gravity and our environment. Loss of balance can have serious consequences. Psychological trauma and fear of falling produce a downward spiral of self-imposed activity reduction which leads to loss of strength, flexibility and mobility.
With proper treatment, balance can be improved and individuals can resume more normal activity levels in their homes and communities.
This program was developed for individuals who are experiencing balance-related disorders that are adversely affecting their lives.
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is used to treat the following symptoms:
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Disequilibrium
- Motion sickness
A specially trained vestibular physical therapist will perform an evaluation to help determine the cause of your symptoms and provide you with a treatment plan to address your needs.
Treatments may include:
- Canalith repositioning techniques (such as the Epley maneuver)
- Balance training to lessen fall risk
- Eye and head movement exercises
- Habituation exercises to address dizziness and imbalance
- Strengthening and exercises for posture
We also utilize two computerized machines (Balance Master and VSR Sport with Invision) that measure your balance and the effectiveness of your vestibular system. Once the data is analyzed, we use this equipment to perform balance and vestibular training.
Vestibular rehabilitation may help to improve symptoms associated with:
- Inner ear disorders such as BPPV (positional vertigo)
- Neuritis
- Meniere’s disease
- Concussion
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain injury
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Cervicogenic dizziness (dizziness associated with neck movement)
- General imbalance
For more information, see the FAQs below or call us at 785-623-5691.
Who can benefit from Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy?
Patients who suffer from a spinning sensation, light-headedness, dizziness, poor tolerance to position changes or head movements, imbalance, depth perception difficulties, spatial awareness, frequent falls, or have difficulty tolerating busy environments.
What can you expect from your first visit and evaluation?
A specialized physical therapist will meet with you to discuss your symptoms and your medical history. An evaluation of your vestibular system will be completed, which includes observation of your eye movements while sitting and when moving between positions. If needed, we will assess your tolerance to different positions to provoke your symptoms.
Your evaluation may also include a balance screening, muscle strength testing, assessment of your range of motion of your neck, observation of daily activities, and posture if necessary. We may also utilize our two balance computer systems to fully assess your vestibular systems response.
How long will it take to see results?
Your therapist may recommend that you attend physical therapy once or twice each week, depending on the presence of your symptoms. This may vary based on the cause of your symptoms and your ability to perform exercises at home or unsupervised. Depending on the cause of your dizziness, you may feel improved over the first or second visit or you may see a steady improvement over the course of six to eight weeks. Your physical therapist will create an individualized treatment plan to address your symptoms following your evaluation and will discuss this with you at that time.
Making an Appointment for Vestibular Rehabilitation
Please call 785-623-5691 to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist from our vestibular rehabilitation team.
Important Note: Please avoid taking any medications issued to reduce dizziness for 24 hours prior to your evaluation. For your safety, it is our recommendation that vestibular patients attend their appointments with a driver in case dizziness occurs.
Therapists
Leslie Olmstead, OTR/L
Teresa Heimann, PT
Amanda Nelson, PT, DPT, CLT
Janna Manning, PT
Kelly Brungardt, PTA, CLT
Hand Care Center
The Hand Care Center team is devoted to giving you the best, most personalized care possible, assisting you through non-operative, preoperative, and postoperative care so you can safely return to your everyday lifestyle, activities and occupation.
Once you have been referred to the Hand Care Center, you will be treated by competent and caring staff who provide treatment and education for patients with diagnoses of the upper extremity. With your therapist’s supervision and guidance, you will set the goals you want to accomplish during your hand therapy. The therapist then creates a customized plan of care which you will try to complete to move toward meeting your rehabilitation goals.
Your care plan will be facilitated through in-therapy exercise, use of modalities, and splinting when appropriate. In order for you to maximize your therapeutic gains, you will need to be fully committed to completing your home exercise program – and have good compliance with all guidelines, precautions, and limitations issued by the physician or therapist. It’s important to understand that even though many injuries are similar and grouped under a specific diagnosis, the injuries themselves may be different for the following reasons: severity of the injury, healing time, your level of compliance, therapeutic services received, surgical procedure performed, comorbidity, past medical history and many other variables. The primary role of the therapist is to help you to help yourself get better.
For more information about all rehabilitation programs at HaysMed or to make an appointment, call 785-623-5691.
Occupational Therapist
Brett Johnson, MOTR/L
Lymphedema Program
Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT) is designed for managing lymphedema. You may be at risk for developing lymphedema if you have had a mastectomy, lumpectomy, radiation treatment, lymph node removal, surgeries, infections, or trauma to the limbs. Injuries to the veins can also impact your risk of developing lymphedema, including blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis to your calf and legs, chronic venous insufficiency, and varicose veins.
CDT consists of manual lymphatic drainage, compression with short-stretch bandaging, decongestive exercises, skin care, and patient instruction. A physician order is required for our lymphedema program, and the evaluation and treatments are provided by a licensed physical therapist certified in CDT.
For more information, see the FAQs below. To schedule an appointment for an evaluation, please contact 785-623-5691.
What is lymphedema? Lymphedema is an abnormal buildup of fluid that results in swelling, usually in the arms or legs, but can also occur in the head, neck and trunk. The condition develops when lymph vessels or lymph nodes are missing, impaired, damaged, or removed. It affects both women and men and can occur at any age.
Lymphedema cannot be cured, but with the right care and treatment, the affected limb can be restored to a more normal size and shape. Lymphedema also can be treated and controlled so that it does not progress further.
Left untreated, lymphedema can lead to increased swelling and hardening of the tissue, resulting in decreased function and mobility in the limb. It can also lead to chronic infection and other illnesses.
What will my treatment look like? We first provide hands-on therapy to reduce the size of the affected limb and then teach each person to successfully manage their specific conditions. Our therapist is CDT-certified. CDT is a painless, noninvasive treatment using techniques that consist of:
- Proper skin and nail care to reduce risk of infections
- Manual lymph drainage (MLD) – a gentle manual technique that routes lymph fluid away from the obstructed area toward adjacent functioning lymph nodes
- Specialized compression bandaging
- Remedial exercises or exercises that address related orthopedic dysfunctions and lymphatic flow
- Instructions in self-care techniques including self-MLD and self-bandaging
- Compression garment fitting
The length of treatment depends upon which limb is involved and the severity of the swelling. Success depends on the patient’s willingness to follow the prescribed treatments and their commitment to long-term self-management.
Will my insurance cover it? How can I get a physician’s order/referral? Most insurance companies will cover the initial evaluation and treatment for the complete decongestive therapy; however, they do not cover the cost of supplies for the compression wraps and may or may not cover the cost of the compression garments. A referral to the Lymphedema Program can be obtained by acquiring a prescription from your physician.
If you have any questions or are interested in the Lymphedema Program, please call 785-623-5691.
Therapists
Amanda Nelson, PT, DPT, CLT
Kelly Brungardt, PTA, CLT
Pelvic Health Program
The pelvic floor is a collection of muscles, ligaments and nerves that are located on the bottom of your pelvis. This group of muscles is responsible for helping support your organs (bladder, uterus and rectum in women and rectum and bladder in men), allowing for normal bathroom movements and providing support to your hips and back. When these muscles, ligaments and nerves are not working together, you can have problems such as pain, unwanted leakage, or a sensation of lack of support. These muscles can be tight or loose, weak, uncoordinated, or painful.
Physical therapy works to help the muscles, ligaments and nerves work at their best so that you can go about your daily activities without having pain, unwanted leakage, or lack of support. Our physical therapists are specially trained to treat these conditions. Many people either avoid speaking about pelvic floor problems or they believe these issues are normal, but these are conditions that can be improved with physical therapy.
Here are some pelvic floor conditions that you may have heard your doctor mention to you that physical therapy can help with:
- Pelvic Floor Pain: Pain anywhere near the pelvic floor, groin, lower back, tailbone or internally may be coming from the pelvic floor muscles, ligaments, or nerves. Sometimes these muscles can be very tight, and it can cause pain. Other times the muscles can be weak and loose, and your organs can put a lot of pressure on these muscles and also cause pain. Sometimes you can have pain with sexual intercourse or with medical evaluations. This can occur in both women and men. All these experiences are not normal and would benefit from examination and treatment from pelvic floor physical therapy.
- Lack of Muscle Coordination: Sometimes your pelvic floor muscles may be not working together correctly which may lead to constipation, urinary/fecal incontinence (unwanted leakage of urine or stool) or poor support to your lower back and hips. If you have to strain to go to the bathroom, these pelvic floor muscles are not working right, and you may benefit from treatment with pelvic floor physical therapy.
- Incontinence (Urinary or Fecal): Do you pee when you cough or sneeze? Do you have an accident in your pants if you try to lift something heavy? Although this is very common, this is NOT NORMAL! Sometimes your pelvic floor muscles are too tight to let urine or bowel movements come out fully or your muscles are too weak to fight back the pressure from above. This is where you can get what is called Incontinence, or unwanted leaking from bowels or bladder. This is something that pelvic floor physical therapy can help. We not only look at the muscles and their function, but we also teach you how to use them correctly in all positions: lying down, sitting, standing, walking, and lifting.
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Do you feel a lot of pressure or see things coming out of your body that are supposed to be inside? If you do, you may benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy. Often, people who have strained, have ongoing breathing problems or weakness in the pelvic floor can have pelvic organ prolapse. This is when the ligaments supporting the organs of your pelvis (bladder, bowels, rectum, uterus) get stretched due to repeated strain or pelvic floor weakness/tightness. When they are unable to provide full support, you may feel pressure in your pelvic area and may have to push organs back in. Physical therapy can help teach you how to lift, breathe and move properly to reduce the amount of pressure pushing onto the organs and help you strengthen the pelvic floor muscles to support the organs.
- Postoperative Prostatectomy: Men have pelvic floor muscles too. When you have your prostate removed due to cancer or other reasons, the pelvic floor muscles have to work harder to prevent urinary incontinence (unwanted leakage of urine). Often, patients will benefit from being taught how to contract their pelvic floor muscles following this surgery and can help speed up the recovery.
For more information about all rehabilitation programs at HaysMed or to make an appointment, call 785-623-5691.
Physical Therapists
Amanda Nelson, PT, DPT, CLT
Janna Manning, PT
Whitney Ford, PT, DPT
LSVT BIG Program
LSVT BIG is a research-based protocol designed to target the daily challenges that individuals with Parkinson’s disease face. LSVT stands for Lee Silverman Voice Treatment, which was first developed in the 80s as a speech therapy treatment. The treatment had excellent results, so the same concept was then applied to physical activities, with extensive research and support provided by the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. This proven, effective treatment technique is used globally now.
For more information, see the FAQs below or call us at 785-623-5691.
What can I expect with LSVT BIG Treatment? This is an intensive program that requires being seen in the clinic four times per week for four weeks. There are seven basic exercises that everyone completes with their treatment and in their home exercise program. There are five basic tasks geared toward the problems that are most concerning, then an overall goal to improve a functional task. Each treatment program is designed specifically for you based on your current status, needs and goals.
Will I benefit from LSVT BIG Treatment? Any patient with any level of Parkinson’s disease is appropriate for therapy, as we can adapt the treatment to every patient’s current status. The earlier in your disease process, the better. These are tools you can use as the disease progresses to keep you moving. Sometimes you may need a refresher course and may benefit from being seen again in a year to two, or even in four to six months depending on staging and progression.
What can improve with LSVT BIG? The LSVT BIG protocol focuses on amplitude of movement, or how BIG you can move. Mobility can be improved such as walking speed, walking pattern, ease of transfers such as sitting and standing, bed mobility, ability to walk in narrow environments and to walk through doorways with less freezing. Activities of daily living (ADLs) can also improve – such as dressing, bathing, buttoning, cutting, eating, and writing. The fluidity of your movement and your balance may also improve.
The great thing about this program is that it is tailored to you. If you are interested in the program, please call 785-623-5691.
Therapists
Amanda Nelson, PT, DPT, CLT
Kelly Brungardt, PTA, CLT
Low Vision Rehabilitation
A diagnosis of low vision is given if an individual’s vision is 20/60 with correction of eyeglasses, contact lenses, or lens implants. This decrease in vision will affect an individual’s activities of daily living such as reading food and medication labels, writing a check, balancing a checkbook, driving a car, operating a computer, preparing a meal, or reading a train schedule.
For a considerable number of older people, low vision is their primary physical impairment. However, because of the impact of low vision on the performance of activities of daily living, many older adults with low vision find they must enter retirement and residential care facilities or reside with their children.
For more information, see the FAQs below or call us at 785-623-5691.
What does legal blindness mean? This is a non-medical term used by the government for income tax purposes. A certain visual acuity, or visual field measurement, is used to determine if a person is qualified for this status. The majority of this population has some remaining vision, and can make effective use of that sight with appropriate low vision devices.
What are low vision devices? Low vision devices or visual aids can be as simple as a bold line pen or as complex as a closed circuit television which magnifies text. Anything including modifications that helps a person compensate for low vision is considered a low vision device or visual aid.
Will devices cure my vision? The use of devices will only allow you to use your vision more effectively. With practice and use, the adaptive equipment and techniques may increase your independence in daily activities.
Will using low vision devices hurt my eyes? Using low vision devices will enhance vision, not harm your eyes. Using your eyes and low vision devices make it possible to perform tasks that otherwise would not be possible.
Do all people who have low vision become blind? Most people with low vision will continue to have usable sight for the remainder of their lives. It is important to continue routine eye examinations and follow the advice of your physicians. Many eye conditions can be progressive without appropriate treatment.
Are there many people with low vision in America? Recent reports from the United States Census Bureau indicate that nearly 13 million Americans over the age of 15 have problems reading newsprint, even with glasses. Although the majority of this population consists of adults, children may also be affected.
Can a low vision evaluation help me? A low vision evaluation consists of many factors. People with a reduction in vision, which affects their daily life, can benefit from a low vision exam. This exam can include: contrast sensitivity, lighting conditions, glare, optical devices and personal motivation. With the evaluation, the physician can determine possible changes that may affect quality of vision.
Will I hurt my eyes by holding the print too close? Written materials that may require you holding them closer to see may feel awkward, but it will not hurt your eyes. Eyes, like feet, get tired with use and may need a rest after a workout.
Will I hurt my eyes by sitting too close to the TV? Sitting even as close as one foot away from your television will not hurt your eyes. Moving closer to your TV can be an inexpensive and effective way to see it better.
Evidence of Treatment
According to guidelines, occupational therapy treatment must be medically necessary; meaning that the individual’s ability to complete necessary activities of daily living (cooking, driving, cleaning, dressing, etc.) has been greatly compromised by the vision loss and there are reasonable expectations that the individual’s functional ability will improve with therapy.
The occupational therapy evaluation focuses on assessing the functional limitations experienced by the individual due to the vision loss and determining how the individual is best able to use remaining vision to complete daily activities.
Occupational therapy treatment emphasizes training the individual to use remaining vision as efficiently and effectively as possible to complete daily activities and includes training in use of optical devices.
Services provided in a low vision rehabilitation program are covered through a physician referral for occupational therapy. If you are interested in the program, please call 785-623-5691.
For more information about all rehabilitation programs at HaysMed or to make an appointment, call 785-623-5691.
Occupational Therapist
Leslie Olmstead, OTR/L
Our Locations
Inpatient rehabilitation services are provided in our hospital at HaysMed.
Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation is provided at the DeBakey Heart Institute at HaysMed.
All other outpatient rehabilitation is provided in the Center for Health Improvement at:
2500 Canterbury Drive
Hays, KS 67601
For more information or to make an appointment, call 785-623-5691 or 866-623-5607.
Quality care for Kansans
At HaysMed and across our western Kansas alliance, we bring a shared commitment to high-quality care, outcomes and experiences. Our mission is deeply rooted in our role as a resource and partner for every patient and every community we serve.