Stroke Information Center

Helping you achieve the best life possible

The effects of a stroke on mobility, memory and communication can vary greatly from one person to another and the pace and progress of rehabilitation can vary too. What’s important to know is that the rehabilitation care provider you choose has the depth of experience and breadth of services to help you achieve the best life possible. At the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), we do.

A national leader in stroke rehabilitation

• RIC helps more people with stroke than almost any other hospital in the country. More than 700 stroke patients each year come to RIC  for expert physical medicine and rehabilitation, Research has shown that the healthcare provider’s experience can lead to better outcomes, and ultimately to a better quality of life.
• RIC is the only federally-designated Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for Stroke by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
• New developments in stroke rehabilitation discovered in RIC laboratories are brought immediately to our patients, placing them at the forefront of scientific advancement through participation in the newest therapies and clinical trials.

Specialists focus to reach your full potential

From the inpatient unit designed exclusively for the care and comfort of stroke patients, to the extensive team of physicians, nurses, therapists and others who specialize in stroke rehabilitation, RIC uniquely combines the most advanced treatments and therapies that may help each individual patient achieve their goals.

• RIC physiatrists – physician specialists in physical medicine & rehabilitation –are recognized leaders in the field of stroke rehabilitation. They provide expert care to manage each patient’s condition, help avoid complications that could impede progress, map out strategies to maximize recovery and help avoid a recurrence of stroke.
• Physical and occupational therapists and speech language pathologists work with patients individually and as a team to help address the unique effects of a stroke. Whether the goal is to help build strength and balance for better mobility, regain the skills of every day activities, or enhance memory, understanding and communication, the team helps patients regain their independence and return to their community.
• Rehabilitation nurses assist in medical management of stroke patients
• RIC’s specialized services complement the core team and help each individual realize their full potential:
  • Assistive Technology
  • Prosthetics and Orthotics Clinical Center
  • Neuropsychology
  • Educational Services/Support Groups
  • Wheelchair Seating & Positioning Center
  • Spasticity
  • Therapeutic Recreation
  • Vocational Rehabilitation

RIC offers a unique program for the “Prime of Life”

The RIC Prime of Life stroke rehabilitation program is specially designed for people with stroke, who’s multi-faceted and rigorous lives demand aggressive intervention. Often, those patients are younger and face greater demands, such as caring for a family, continuing a career or community involvement, engaging in an active social life and enjoying intimate relationships.

The RIC Prime of Life program integrates the traditional therapies and specialized services with other novel therapies not typically available elsewhere, including:

• Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy
• Robot-Assisted Walking Therapy (Lokomat) and Arm Therapy
• Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training
• Clinical Drug Therapy Trials
• Aphasia Management

The bridge back to life

For people with stroke, impatient rehabilitation may be the first step across the bridge back to life.  But RIC’s guidance, support and expert rehabilitation care is available to you every step of the way.

• RIC prepares you to return to your family and community, equipped with the knowledge and skills you may need to move confidently into the future.
  • Education and training of patients and family me members in ongoing care or adaptive techniques to compensate for a diminished or slow-returning function.
  • Communication with patient’s primary care physician to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of care,
  • RIC support groups, LIFE Center and Galvin Health & Fitness Center provide resources for emotional and physical well being.
• RIC DayRehabCenters are specially designed for patients who no longer require inpatient hospitalizaton or daily physician visits but can benefit from multiple, intensive therapies to continue their progress.
• RIC Outpatient Centers are ideal for may need only one type of therapy to refine their skills, such as physical therapy for nobility or speech therapy for communication.
• RIC DayRehabCenters and Outpatient Centers are conveniently located in throughout the Chicago area, southern Illinois and north central Indiana, and are staffed with physicians, nurses and therapists who deliver the same innovative treatments and therapies that have earned RIC its reputation for the best rehabilitation care anywhere.

For more information, call our Toll Free Referral and Information Line: 1-800-354-REHAB (7342), or visit the locations page of our Web site.