Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Cedars-Sinai focuses on function and enhancing the person's quality of life. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physicians are focused on restoring the health and functional abilities of people after injury or illness such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputations, orthopedics, transplantations, cardiac, pulmonary, or neurological disorders.

The department offers rehabilitation services throughout the continuum of care by a group of highly qualified personnel including rehabilitation physicians, rehabilitation nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, recreational therapists, and neuropsychologists. We provide a spectrum of clinical rehabilitation services in the acute medical and surgical units, inpatient CARF accredited rehabilitation unit, and outpatient rehabilitation

Education and Research

We provide a number of educational and training programs including medical student clerkships, a multi-center residency physical medicine and rehabilitation residency program, and student trainings in PM&R, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and neuropsychology. Further we provide quarterly Rehabilitation Grand Rounds and an Annual CME Rehabilitation Conference.

Research

The field of rehabilitation is becoming increasingly important as the population ages, seriously ill and injured individuals survive with impairments, and quality of life has a greater importance in overall health outcomes. The department is committed to developing programs that advance the rehabilitation field and stimulate innovation. Recent published studies have examined visual rehabilitation effectiveness, risk of fall criteria and medical comorbidities as they relate to outcomes. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is currently participating in a five year NIH grant assessing upper extremity treatment protocols in stroke patients.

Advocacy

The Department is active in the California Hospital Association-Center for Medical Rehabilitation Services (CMRS) for promotion and advocacy of rehabilitation services.

Leadership

Richard V. Riggs, MD
Chair and Medical Director, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation