Rehabilitation Services

Whidbey General Hospital offers high quality, full-spectrum skilled rehabilitation services to both hospital inpatients and outpatients. Outpatient services are available at the hospital campus and at the North Whidbey Community Clinic. Most primary insurances pay for skilled rehabilitation services as long as there is a medical need and a referral from a physician (M.D. or D.O.), physician assistant or nurse practitioner.

Following are the programs offered through WGH’s Rehabilitation Services Department:

Aquatic Therapy Program – Warm water pool environment with handicap access. Aquatic therapy is a very effective treatment for people who have difficulty performing land-based exercises due to pain or weakness.

Back Rehabilitation and Education – This program is designed to help you with back injury and pain. It incorporates therapeutic exercise, modalities for pain control and proactive education to help prevent further back injury. 

Falls Prevention - An individualized, comprehensive program for improving balance and mobility in the elderly and others at risk of falling.

Independent Exercise Program - Provides the opportunity for discharged rehabilitation patients to use gym equipment in a supervised setting in order to maintain achieved fitness levels.

Neurological Rehabilitation – Offered to those who have suffered a stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain damage or other neurological disorders. This is often an interdisciplinary approach incorporating physical and occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services.

Occupational Therapy – Assessment and treatment for upper extremity injuries (e.g. carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, wrist sprain, trigger finger, etc.), decreased ability to perform normal daily tasks (dressing, bathing, grooming, meal preparation, shopping) and worksite/ergonomic assessment and recommendations.

Orthopedic Rehabilitation – Provides rehabilitation following orthopedic-related injuries and surgeries. Programs may include therapeutic exercises, educational activities and modalities for pain control.

Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Program – Our qualified Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Speech Language Pathologists evaluate and treat infants and children with a wide variety of needs including fine motor, gross motor, sensory, speech, language and swallowing. These children may have, but are not limited to, diagnoses of developmental delay, cerebral palsy, torticollis, prematurity, autism, attention deficit, sensory processing disorder, learning disabled, orthopedic injury, biomechanical deficit(s), speech delay, language delay, apraxia, and dysphagia. We provide a team approach in order to achieve the best possible outcome for your child.

Speech-Language Pathology – Individualized assessment and treatment of difficulties with chewing or swallowing, confusion and/or memory problems, or trouble with sounds or words heard or spoken.

Sports Therapy - Prevention and treatment of sport related injuries for athletes of all ages.

Vestibular Rehabilitation – Effective treatment for unsteadiness and dizziness caused by inner ear problems.

Through the Rehabilitation Services Department, we also offer Complimentary Alternative Medicine Therapies. These include Acupuncture, Massage Therapy and Music Therapy.

Acupuncture - Acupuncture uses specially placed thin needles to enhance the natural healing ability of the body, manage chronic disorders, and to alleviate pain and other symptoms. It originated 2000 - 3000 years ago in China but remains an important part of current traditional Chinese medicine. In western medical circles, acupuncture is best recognized for its place in pain management and management of nausea and vomiting.

Massage Therapy - Massage can relieve stress and anxiety, help you to relax, and assist in pain reduction. Recent clinical research has shown Massage therapy to be effective in:

• Soothing chronic back pain
• Reducing post-traumatic headaches better than cold pack treatments
• Promoting relaxation and alleviating the perception of pain and anxiety in cancer patients 
• Decreasing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome
• Easing post-operative pain
• Reducing headache frequency
• Reducing anxiety and lowering blood pressure in stroke patients
• Beyond these primary effects, there are a number of secondary benefits offered by a good massage, including boosting the body’s immune system functioning and stimulating the brain to produce endorphins.

Massage and Acupuncture are covered services under most commercial health insurance policies in Washington State. Currently, Medicare and Medicaid do NOT pay for either one of these therapies. A physician referral is necessary to ensure insurance reimbursement.

Phone numbers
Hospital clinic: 360-678-7619 or 360-321-7656 ext. 2250
North clinic: 360 679-1415