Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago is a rehabilitation hospital located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is a part of the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University.

History

Founded in 1954, RIC has earned a worldwide reputation as being a leader in patient care, advocacy, research and educating health professionals in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Reputation

RIC has been ranked #1 in the United States and recognized as the "Best Rehabilitation Hospital in America" since 1991 by U.S. News & World Report. No other specialty hospital has been consecutively ranked the "Best" by U.S. News & World Report for so long. In 2003 RIC was also ranked as one of the "Best Hospital" in Rheumatology for the fourth consecutive year.

Areas of specialty

People from around the globe visit RIC for treatment of complex conditions such as cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, stroke and traumatic brain injury as well as the more common arthritis, chronic pain and sports injuries. Many people also come to RIC because of their specialized services, including Assistive Technology, Prosthetics and Orthotics and Vocational Rehabilitation which help individuals lead more independent and fulfilling lives. Pediatric and geriatric rehabilitation services are also available.

Types of Care

RIC offers different levels of care, including inpatient, day rehabilitation, and outpatient services, according to the special needs of each patient. At all levels of treatment, specialists from many disciplines are brought together to help patients progress in a multidisciplinary manner. Each team is led by a physiatrist, a physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Other members of the team could include rehabilitation nurses, pediatric-certified nurses, physical and occupational therapists, speech/language pathologists, psychologists, chaplains, social workers, rehabilitation engineers, recreational therapists, vocational counselors and respiratory specialists and many other health professionals. Through a collaborative approach, each team focuses on helping patients meet their individual goals, and get back to life.

atellite locations

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago has over 30 satellite locations in the Chicago area and Southern Illinois. RIC has formed strategic alliances with Advocate Health Care at Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Riverside Medical Center, Southern Illinois Healthcare, and RML Specialty Hospital.

To view a listing of the Institute's locations: [http://www.ric.org/about/locations.php RIC satellite locations]

Advocacy and Community Outreach

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago offers programs and services through its advocacy and community outreach efforts to improve the quality of life for people with physical disabilities. Programs include the Center for Health and Fitness, Vocational Rehabilitation, Health Resource Center for Women with Disabilities, and an Injury Prevention Program, which educates children and adults on preventing disabling injuries.

Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago is the home of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and operates one of the largest and most prestigious physiatry residency programs in the United States. Additionally, the Institute offers more than 100 continuing education courses every year through its Dixon Education and Training Center, which attracts more than 7,000 healthcare professionals from all over the world.

Specialty Outpatient clinics including the Women's Rehabilitation Center, Arthritis Center, Center for Pain Research and the Chronic Pain Care Center.

The Institute administers the Henry B. Betts Award, named for its former chief executive, in collaboration with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). This is a cash award of $50,000 to an individual whose work and influence have significantly improved the quality of life for people with disabilities, and will be a force for change in the future. Its recipients since 1989 have included Marca Bristo, Judy Heumann, Lex Frieden, Mary Lou Breslin, Fred Fay, Ralf Hotchkiss and Dick Thornburgh.

earle Research Center

Searle Research Center at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago is one of the nation’s largest such programs of its kind in the country, and one of the most respected in the world, attracting research scientists from around the globe. With more than $6 million in federal and private foundation grants and other donations, and working in collaboration with Northwestern University and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, the goal of scientists at the Searle Center is to provide practical solutions for today and the promise of hope for tomorrow for people with physical disabilities. The Institute is the only federally funded stroke rehabilitation research and training center in the country. Research teams are involved in more than 50 projects, including cutting-edge studies with the Lokomat, a robot that may help people with paralysis walk again; brain mapping, to determine how the brain activity changes after strokes; and creating a cyborg that connects animal brain cells and a robot in the quest for more functional artificial limbs.

Accreditation

The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.

See also

* Biomedical engineering

External links

* [http://www.ric.org/ Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago web site]
* [http://www.ric.org/about/news/pr_display.php?id=319 Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's Neuro-Controlled Bionic Arm] .