Multiple sclerosis rehabilitation

Multiple sclerosis (MS) rehabilitation takes a multidisciplinary team approach to providing care to patients with multiple sclerosis. Comprehensive treatment is designed to meet individual patient needs. Program components may include instruction in walking or moving safely; functional mobility (bed, wheelchair, kitchen and more); activities of daily living (dressing, grooming and more); cognitive and visual or perceptual skills; eating and swallowing safely; speech and language skills; and safety and judgment. Patients and their families also receive information about the disease process. Therapists recommend appropriate adaptive equipment or techniques based on the expected course of each patient’s disease. The program continues through all phases of care, from inpatient to home-care to outpatient.

Inpatient care

If patients' function changes due to an MS exacerbation (flare up) they will be evaluated and a plan of care will be set up with them and their families. Treatment may be provided by a physical therapist, occupational therapist and speech pathologist based on the needs of patients. Often, the rehabilitation team will recommend patients be admitted to Methodist Hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation unit for intensive therapies and rehabilitative nursing care.

To qualify for inpatient rehabilitation, patients need to be able to tolerate three hours a day of therapies, and medically benefit from at least two therapy disciplines. A support group is offered weekly for inpatients to help address the social and emotional well-being of patients and their families.

The rehabilitation team meets regularly to discuss patients’ progress and goals. Ongoing communication on the plan of care is shared with patients and their families. Patients may be discharged to a transitional care unit (short-term nursing home), home with home-care or begin outpatient therapies. The therapy team will help obtain necessary equipment for patients upon discharge.

Home-care

If patients are discharged home and considered homebound, team members provide services within their own environment. When patients are ready, the home-care team helps with the transition to outpatient therapy, if appropriate.

Outpatient care

Outpatient therapy builds upon patients’ previous therapy programs if they received inpatient care or home-care. Physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists complete an evaluation and establish an individualized treatment plan with patients and their families. Therapists work with patients to determine the frequency of therapy sessions.

Services at INSPIRE Neurological Learning Center

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Locations

View Park Nicollet locations that provide this service.

Contact information

Outpatient services: 952-993-5900

Return to physical therapy page, occupational therapy page or speech pathology page