Rehabilitation Institute Of Chicago

THE REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO DBA SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITYLAB (SRALAB) IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING THE BEST PATIENT OUTCOMES THROUGH THE HIGHEST-QUALITY CLINICAL CARE, TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH, SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY AND EDUCATION.

CLINICAL CARE: THE SRALAB WAS FOUNDED IN 1951 AS THE REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, AN ILLINOIS NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION. IN MARCH 2017, THE REHABILITATION NSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, HOUSING 182 BEDS, MOVED TO A NEW BUILDING WITH 242 LICENSED BEDS, AND BECAME THE SRALAB. THIS MOVE BROUGHT NOT ONLY A PHYSICAL CHANGE OF ADDRESS BUT A WHOLE NEW MODEL TO THE FIELD OF REHABILITATION. UPON OPENING IN MARCH 2017, THE 1.2-MILLION-SQUARE-FOOT SRALAB BECAME THE FIRST-EVER "TRANSLATIONAL" RESEARCH HOSPITAL IN WHICH CLINICIANS, SCIENTISTS, INNOVATORS AND TECHNOLOGISTS WORK TOGETHER IN THE SAME SPACE, SURROUNDING PATIENTS, DISCOVERING NEW APPROACHES AND APPLYING (OR "TRANSLATING") RESEARCH IN REAL TIME. SRALAB'S VISION IS TO ADVANCE HUMAN ABILITY THROUGH SCIENCE AND RESEARCH. THE ORGANIZATION HAS EARNED THE DISTINCTION OF BEING NAMED THE NATION'S #1-RANKED PROVIDER OF COMPREHENSIVE PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION CARE TO PATIENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD FOR 29 YEARS BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT - A RECORD FOR ANY U.S. HOSPITAL. SRALAB ALSO IS THE NATION'S LARGEST REHABILITATION RESEARCH ENTERPRISE, ADVANCING THE FIELD GLOBALLY THROUGH INNOVATION OF THE MOST ADVANCED TREATMENTS AND TECHNOLOGIES. SRALAB IS THE ONLY REHABILITATION HOSPITAL IN THE NATION TO HOLD A RECORD EIGHT FEDERALLY DESIGNATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS IN THE AREAS OF COMPUTERS AND ROBOTS IN THERAPY, MOBILITY TECHNOLOGIES, HEALTH AND FUNCTION IN DISABILITIES, NEUROLOGIC REHABILITATION, SPINAL CORD INJURY, REHABILITATION ENGINEERING, PATIENT OUTCOMES, AND PEDIATRIC ORTHOPEDICS. SRALAB'S CARE QUALITY AND DELIVERY HIGHLIGHTS: SRALAB'S SYSTEM OF CARE INCLUDED A 242 BED HOSPITAL AND OUTPATIENT FACILITY, LOCATED AT 355 EAST ERIE STREET IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF OTHER FACILITIES AND JOINT VENTURES. THE CORPORATION OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF INPATIENT, DAY REHABILITATION AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM. INPATIENT REHABILITATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED USING A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH. DAY TREATMENT REHABILITATION CONSISTS OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH FOR INDIVIDUALS NO LONGER REQUIRING THE 24-HOUR NURSING SERVICES PROVIDED IN AN INPATIENT SETTING. OUTPATIENT CARE IS TYPICALLY A SINGULAR DISCIPLINE (E.G., PHYSICAL THERAPY) AND OFFERS VARIOUS LEVELS OF THERAPEUTIC INTENSITY, DEPENDING ON THE PATIENT'S NEEDS AND GOALS. IN FY 2019 SRALAB TREATED MORE THAN 6,800 INPATIENTS THROUGHOUT ITS SYSTEM OF CARE AND DELIVERED APPROXIMATELY 2.0 MILLION OUTPATIENT THERAPY UNITS. SRALAB'S FACILITIES ARE STAFFED BY APPROXIMATELY 2,600 MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL, A DEDICATED TEAM WHO IN FY 2019 TREATED PATIENTS FROM 47 STATES AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND HANDLED REFERRALS FROM 43 COUNTRIES. EACH PATIENT AT SRALAB IS ASSIGNED A PERSONALIZED (COORDINATED INTERPROFESSIONAL) CARE TEAM CONSISTING OF THE FIELD'S MOST WELL-TRAINED REHABILITATION DOCTORS, NURSES, THERAPISTS, CARE MANAGERS CLINICAL SPECIALISTS AND RESEARCHERS. NO OTHER SPECIALTY HOSPITAL IN THE NATION HAS A MORE EXPERIENCED TRACK RECORD OF BEING RATED #1 FOR TWENTY-NINE CONSECUTIVE YEARS. SRALAB IS ONE OF THE 3.7% OF THE NATION'S NEARLY 6,000 HOSPITALS TO HAVE ACHIEVED THREE OR MORE CONSECUTIVE MAGNET DESIGNATIONS FOR NURSING EXCELLENCE FROM THE AMERICAN NURSES CREDENTIALING CENTER (ANCC) AND THE FIRST FREE-STANDING ACUTE INPATIENT REHABILITATION HOSPITAL TO HAVE THIS DISTINCTION.

RESEARCH PROGRAM: SRALAB'S RESEARCH PROGRAM IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST PHYSICAL REHABILITATION RESEARCH ENTERPRISE IN PURSUIT OF CLINICAL ADVANCEMENT THROUGH SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. THE RESEARCH PROGRAM HAS AT ANY GIVEN TIME APPROXIMATELY 150 RESEARCH PROJECTS UNDERWAY, FUNDED BY MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN DONATIONS FROM BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SOURCES. ITS EXPERTS REGULARLY PUBLISH RESEARCH IN THE WORLD'S FOREMOST MEDICAL JOURNALS, INCLUDING THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (JAMA) AND ITS EUROPEAN EQUIVALENT, THE LANCET, AND IT IS HOME TO FIVE FEDERAL RESEARCH DESIGNATIONS TO DEVELOP CUTTING-EDGE SOLUTIONS FOR PATIENTS. BIOLOGICS LAB AND APHASIA RESEARCH INTEGRATION: WE HAVE BEGUN TO INTEGRATE OUR BIOLOGICS LABORATORY WITH THE REST OF THE HOSPITAL IN THE APHASIA RESEARCH PROGRAM. WE ARE NOW GENETICALLY SEQUENCING PATIENTS IN THE STROKE REHABILITATION PROGRAM TO UNDERSTAND THE GENETIC BASIS (IF ANY) FOR RESPONSE TO THERAPY. THIS WORK WAS FUNDED BY NIDILRR. THE NIDILRR-FUNDED CENTER IS ESPECIALLY FOR PATIENTS WITH HEMISPHERIC STROKE - THE MOST DEBILITATING KIND. SEVEN STUDIES ADDRESS TWO ELEMENTAL QUESTIONS: WHEN IS THE OPTIMAL TIME TO USE ROBOTIC AND COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEMS DURING THERAPY, AND HOW DO THERAPISTS BEST INTERACT WITH ROBOTIC DEVICES DURING THERAPY, OFTEN WITH MINIMAL HANDS-ON TREATMENT COMING FROM THE CLINICIAN. TRAINING OF UNDERGRADUATE REHABILITATION ENGINEERS IS INCLUDED. MANIPULATION AND MOBILITY TECHNOLOGIES: A NIDILRR-FUNDED REHABILITATION ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER AWARD TO FUND SIX NEW PROJECTS RESEARCHING INNOVATIONS THAT ARE DIRECTLY USEFUL FOR PATIENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED LIMB-LOSS OR STROKE. PROJECTS INCLUDE BODY-POWERED HAND PROSTHESES, USE OF POWERED EXOSKELETON FOR AFTER-STROKE PATIENTS, AND A NEW WHEELCHAIR TO ALLOW BOTH SITTING AND STANDING. RESEARCH WILL INCLUDE BOTH TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND CLINICAL TESTING. HEALTH AND FUNCTION IN PHYSICAL DISABILITY: THIS REHABILITATION AND TRAINING CENTER, FUNDED BY NIDILRR, WAS CREATED TO DEVELOP, EVALUATE, AND IMPLEMENT METHODS TO PROMOTE OPTIMAL HEALTH AND FUNCTION OF PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. THROUGH A VARIETY OF RESEARCH, TRAINING AND DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES, WE EXPECT TO GAIN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE EFFICACY AND VALUE OF VARIOUS INTERVENTIONS FOR ACHIEVING AND MAINTAINING HEALTH AND FUNCTION FOR PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY. SPINAL CORD INJURY RESEARCH: SRALAB OPERATES THE MIDWEST REGIONAL SPINAL CORD INJURY CARE SYSTEM AS DESIGNATED BY NIDILRR. ONE OF ONLY 14 SCI MODEL SYSTEMS NATIONWIDE, SRALAB ADVANCES SPINAL CORD CARE THROUGH CLINICAL RESEARCH THAT IDENTIFIES NEW STANDARDS OF CARE FOR THE INDUSTRY. IT LEADS MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT AND COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS EXPLORING WALKING THERAPY TECHNOLOGIES THAT DELIVER THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT TO ADVANCE ABILITY. ENGINEERING RESEARCH: THIS PROJECT ESTABLISHES A NEW NIDILRR-FUNDED REHABILITATION ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER, COLLABORATIVE MACHINES ENHANCING THERAPIES (COMET), FOCUSING ON ADVANCING TECHNOLOGIES THAT WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PATIENTS AND CLINICIANS TO ENHANCE GAIT AND DEXTERITY OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH STROKE AND SPINAL CORD INJURY (SCI) AND OTHER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN A REAL-LIFE REHABILITATION SETTING. THIS PROJECT IS BASED AT SRALAB AND LEADS FOUR OTHER MAJOR RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE UNITED STATES.

MEDICAL EDUCATION: THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (DEPT OF PM&R) IS HOUSED WITHIN SRALAB, WHICH HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST HIGHLY RESPECTED RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION IN THE COUNTRY. RESIDENT PHYSICIANS SPEND THREE TO FOUR YEARS ROTATING THROUGH THE DEPT OF PM&R, TAUGHT BY SRALAB PHYSICIANS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THIS SPECIALTY. IN FY 2019, SRALAB TRAINED 53 RESIDENTS. THE SRALAB MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR FIRST-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS TO MEET REGULARLY WITH PATIENTS FROM SRALAB'S SPINAL CORD INJURY, GENERAL REHABILITATION, OR PEDIATRIC PROGRAM TO GAIN PATIENTS' INSIGHTS ON RECOVERY AND NEEDS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING. FELLOWSHIPS: SRALAB OFFERS 5 PHYSICIAN SUB-SPECIALTY FELLOWSHIPS, FUNDED PRIMARILY BY DONATIONS, IN SPORTS MEDICINE, PAIN MEDICINE, PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY REHABILITATION, AND SPINAL CORD INJURY REHABILITATION. IN FY 2019, 13 PHYSICIAN FELLOWS WERE NAMED AT SRALAB, 2 IN SPINAL CORD MEDICINE, 4 IN SPORTS MEDICINE, 3 IN PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION, 2 IN BRAIN INJURY AND 2 IN PAIN MEDICINE. SRALAB ALSO SUPPORTS FELLOWSHIPS FOR THERAPISTS, NURSES AND OTHER NON-PHYSICIANS. PROSTHETICS AND ORTHOTICS (P&O) RESIDENCY: EACH YEAR, SRALAB'S PROSTHETICS AND ORTHOTICS CLINICAL CENTER (POCC) SELECTS THREE PROSTHETIST AND THREE ORTHOTIST RESIDENTS FOR THESE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER POSITIONS. THE ORTHOTICS RESIDENCY IS A 12-MONTH PROGRAM AND THE PROSTHETICS RESIDENCY IS AN 18-MONTH PROGRAM TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN RESEARCH THROUGH OUR CENTER FOR BIONIC MEDICINE. THROUGH THESE TRAINING PROGRAMS, P&O RESIDENTS ARE MENTORED BY SRALAB'S CERTIFIED, LICENSED PROFESSIONALS AND GET EXPOSURE TO A VARIETY OF CLINICAL PRESENTATIONS AND PATHOLOGIES, CLINICAL EVALUATION, PRESCRIPTION RECOMMENDATION, DOCUMENTATION, THE ACTUAL FABRICATION OF DEVICES, AND FORMAL RESEARCH. ACADEMY: THE ACADEMY HAS OFFERED CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES AIMED AT HELPING HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS STAY AT THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR FIELD FOR 60 YEARS. IN FY 2019, FIVE THOUSAND STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN ACADEMY PROGRAMS WHICH ARE TAUGHT BY INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS OF RECOGNIZED SPECIALISTS FROM SRALAB AND VISITING EXPERTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. THESE COURSES WERE OFFERED IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS INCLUDING WEBINARS, ON-SITE AND ONLINE COURSES, OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND PODCASTS. THIS YEAR, THE ACADEMY ALSO DEVELOPED AND ROLLED OUT TRAINING TO AN INTERNATIONAL REHABILITATION HOSPITAL THAT WAS INTRODUCING THIS LEVEL OF CARE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR COUNTRY.

SRALAB'S HENRY B. BETTS LIFE CENTER IS A VIRTUAL AND MULTIMEDIA EDUCATION CENTER PROVIDING PATIENT EDUCATION AND CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS, FAMILIES, STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY. EVERYTHING IN THE COLLECTION RELATES IN SOME WAY TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH A WIDE RANGE OF COGNITIVE AND PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS, CHRONIC CONDITIONS OR DISEASES AFFECTING FUNCTION. THE WEBSITE ENABLES INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE GLOBE TO HAVE ACCESS TO CURRENT, PEER-REVIEWED PATIENT EDUCATION AND CONSUMER HEALTH RESOURCES WITH REAL-TIME UPDATES, PRINTING ON DEMAND AND A DASHBOARD TO SAVE FAVORITE RESOURCES FOR EASY ACCESS. RESOURCES SUCH AS THE LIFE CENTER HELP INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE INTRICACIES OF HEALTH CARE AND MINIMIZE THE COMPLEXITY OF RELEVANT HEALTH INFORMATION. HAVING ACCESS TO INFORMATION EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO PARTNER WITH THEIR HEALTH CARE TEAM IN ORDER TO MAKE THE BEST CHOICES FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES AND ENGAGE IN LIFE-LONG LEARNING. THE CENTER'S RESOURCES ARE ORGANIZED ACCORDING TO EIGHT TOPIC AREAS: MEDICAL INFORMATION AND CARE, CAREGIVING AND EQUIPMENT, HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT, SUPPORT AND WELLNESS, RECREATION AND LEISURE, FINANCE AND LAW AND INSPIRATION AND HOPE. LIFE WEB TRAFFIC IN FY 2019 AVERAGED 28,723 PAGE VIEWS PER MONTH WITH 344,686 PAGE VIEWS ANNUALLY FROM MORE THAN 200 COUNTRIES. THE 15,809 UNIQUE USERS EACH MONTH WERE REFLECTIVE OF A 64% INCREASE FROM FY 2018. THIS PAST YEAR, THE HIGHEST INTERNATIONAL WEB ACTIVITY OCCURRED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, INDIA, PHILIPPINES, SOUTH AFRICA, IRELAND, MALAYSIA AND SINGAPORE. IN FY 2019, TOTAL OUTREACH AND SERVICE EFFORTS REPRESENTED 9,953 PERSON CONTACTS SERVED WHICH INCLUDES PROGRAMS, CLASSES, SPECIAL EVENTS, RESOURCE REQUESTS, TEACHING ACTIVITIES AND TOURS FOR PATIENTS, FAMILIES, STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY. SPORTS AND FITNESS PROGRAM: THE SRALAB ADAPTIVE SPORTS AND FITNESS PROGRAM PROVIDES WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES THROUGH SPORTS AND RECREATION AS WELL AS A FULL-SERVICE ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CLUB. ALL SERVICES OFFERED IN THE ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAM, WHICH MARKED ITS 38TH YEAR IN FY 2019, ARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE FITNESS PROGRAM, WHICH CELEBRATED ITS 23RD ANNIVERSARY, PROVIDES ACCESS TO A HEALTH CLUB THAT OPERATES FROM 6:15 AM TO 7 PM FIVE DAYS PER WEEK FOR A NOMINAL ANNUAL FEE. THE SPORTS AND FITNESS PROGRAM IS FUNDED PRIMARILY BY GRANTS AND GENEROUS COMMUNITY DONATIONS AND IS OPERATED BY TEN AND ONE HALF FULL TIME EQUIVALENT STAFF. ADDITIONALLY, VOLUNTEERS LOGGED NEARLY 10,200 HOURS IN FY 2019. THE SHIRLEY RYAN ADAPTIVE SPORTS AND FITNESS PROGRAM IS CONSIDERED A NATIONAL LEADER IN HEALTH PROMOTION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. IN FY 2019, THE SPORTS PROGRAM RECORDED 7,993 VISITS BY ITS 367 REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS, AND THE FITNESS PROGRAM RECORDED 29,050 VISITS BY ITS 752 REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS IN ADDITION TO 7,461 CLASS VISITS. A SEPARATE PROGRAM FOR YOUTH, THE CARING FOR KIDS PROGRAM, RECORDED 1,404 VISITS BY 200 CHICAGO AREA CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM: BEGINNING A CAREER OR RETURNING TO WORK FOLLOWING AN ILLNESS OR INJURY IS IMPORTANT TO A PATIENT'S FINANCIAL SECURITY AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. IT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF A PRODUCTIVE, INDEPENDENT AND FULFILLING LIFE. FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, THE SRALAB HAS BEEN PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH CLIENT. SERVICES INCLUDE INITIAL ASSESSMENT, DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION, WORK TRIAL ASSESSMENTS, JOB ANALYSIS, RETURN-TO-WORK EVALUATIONS, JOB PLACEMENT, RESUME WRITING, JOB INTERVIEW WORKSHOPS AND INTERNSHIP COORDINATION. THE SRALAB COVERS THE COST OF INITIAL ASSESSMENTS, WHICH ARE NOT COVERED BY MOST THIRD-PARTY PAYERS. PATIENTS RECEIVE VOCATIONAL SERVICES AT NINE SRALAB FACILITIES, ENSURING THAT EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE IS CLOSELY TIED TO COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION. DURING FY 2019 THE PROGRAM SERVED 994 CLIENTS. IN THE LAST YEAR, WE PLACED 62 INDIVIDUALS IN JOBS AND ARE PLEASED TO REPORT AN AVERAGE ANNUAL JOB RETENTION RATE OF 89%. WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE NO COST GED PROGRAM FOR PATIENTS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES TO OUR LIST OF SERVICES. THE WHEELCHAIR & SEATING CENTER STAFF EVALUATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMPLEX WHEELCHAIRS AND CUSTOMIZED SEATING SYSTEMS FOR PATIENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT MOBILITY AND POSTURAL NEEDS. THIS INCLUDES MANUAL WHEELCHAIRS; POWERED WHEELCHAIRS; CUSTOM-MADE AND CUSTOMIZED SEAT AND BACK CUSHIONS TO RELIEVE PRESSURE, PREVENT PRESSURE SORES, AND MAINTAIN POSTURE; ALTERNATIVE DRIVE CONTROLS LIKE SIP AND PUFF AND HEAD ARRAY SYSTEMS; THAT HELP CLIENTS MAINTAIN OR INCREASE THEIR MOBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE, AT HOME, WORK, OR IN THE COMMUNITY.