Inpatient Physical Therapy

The Physical Therapy Department, made up of more than 80 highly motivated staff members, including licensed physical therapists, licensed physical therapy assistants and trained therapy aides, is divided into four teams: the Acute Team, the Rehabilitation Team, the Outpatient Team and the Long-Term Acute-Care Team. Qualified staff can choose to work in one or several of these areas.

Members of the Acute Team treat a varied caseload of patients that may include burn and wound care, cardiac rehabilitation, general medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics and neurological diagnoses. Physical therapists work at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital. The Rehabilitation Team treats those requiring inpatient rehabilitation at Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, orthopedics and aquatics.

The Outpatient Team treats a wide variety of patients, including pediatrics, orthopedics, sports-related injuries, all neurological diagnoses, spinal dysfunctions, and military personnel who suffer blast injuries. They also perform Functional Capacity Evaluations as well as vestibular assessment and training. Outpatient physical therapists may work at Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center, Industrial, Orthopedic and Sports Therapy Center, HealthPlex wellness facility, Health Pavilion North and the Medical Arts Center, across from Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital.

The Physical Therapy Department is very supportive of continuing education, providing liberal resources for courses including several health system-sponsored courses. Likewise, the department fosters preceptor and mentorship programs. The clinical ladder program helps staff advance in their field as they gain specialized knowledge in a clinical area.