Rehabilitation Medicine

Rehabilitation Medicine (also known as physiatry) is a medical specialty dedicated to restoring function, enhancing quality of life, and maximising independence for individuals with physical impairments or disabilities. This field focuses on comprehensive patient care, addressing the full spectrum of a person's physical, emotional, and social well-being. 

The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Singapore General Hospital provides comprehensive, interdisciplinary rehabilitation for patients with complex functional needs resulting from illness or accident. Our services span across the main Outram Campus, including an intensive inpatient rehabilitation ward in the SingHealth Tower building.

In 2022, the department adopted a mission statement that encapsulates our commitment: "To be a Centre of Excellence in the delivery of Rehabilitation Services, so as to maximize our patients' functional recovery through teamwork and innovation." This mission drives our approach to patient care, emphasizing collaboration and cutting-edge practices.

Our interdisciplinary team works tirelessly to:

• Restore and maximize patient's functional abilities, independence, and quality of life
• Address physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of health
• Help patients overcome limitations and reintegrate into their communities

Clinical Services

Candidates for Rehabilitation Medicine include patients with:

• Neurologic conditions: Stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, neural infections and degeneration, Parkinson's Disease, motor neuron diseases, myopathies
• Orthopaedic conditions: Musculoskeletal injuries, amputations, back surgeries
• Medical conditions: Cardiac, pulmonary, arthritis and connective tissue diseases, cancer, general deconditioning, chronic pain, post-ICU complicated recovery
• Surgical conditions: Polytrauma survivors, peri-surgical medical complications

Integrated Specialist Team for Rehabilitation

The multifaceted nature of disability and recovery demands a collaborative approach, bringing together various expertise to provide comprehensive, patient-centred care.

Our team leverage the expertise of:

• Rehabilitation Physicians: These doctors oversee patients' overall health and progress, providing medical treatments for various conditions such as post-stroke shoulder pain and spasticity.
• Nurses: Our dedicated nurses monitor patients' well-being in the ward and assist with administering treatments, ensuring round-the-clock care. Speciality Rehabilitation Nurses also have a role in educating patients on bladder or bowel care issues.
• Physiotherapists: They focus on improving patients' functional mobility and physical activity through targeted treatments and exercises.
• Occupational Therapists: These specialists help patients develop, recover, or maintain the skills needed for daily living, promoting independence.
• Speech Therapists: They assess, diagnose, and treat communication and swallowing disorders, helping patients regain these vital functions.
• Dietitians: Our nutrition experts assess patients' needs and provide personalised advice and appropriate diet plans to support recovery.
• Music Therapists: Using the power of music, they provide innovative treatments for movement and speech training through audiological cueing.
• Pharmacists: These professionals advise on optimal medications and treatments, while also educating patients about their prescribed drugs.
• Medical Social Workers: They address the psychological, emotional, social, and economic challenges that patients and their families may face during illness and treatment.

Comprehensive Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation Services

Our inpatient rehabilitation program provides intensive, daily therapy and round-the-clock medical management to support optimal recovery for patients with complex needs.

• Diagnosis and optimisation of medical conditions to participate in rehabilitation therapies.
• Daily physical and occupation therapy during weekdays, excluding public holidays.
• Speech therapy, cognitive therapy and music therapy as needed.
• Caregiver training and management of complex care issues such as stomas, pressure injuries, urinary catheter care and tracheostomy care. 

We offer a wide range of specialised outpatient treatments and ongoing support to help patients continue their progress and successfully reintegrate into their community. 

• Diagnosis and optimisation of medical conditions to participate in the rehabilitation process.
• Planning of appropriate rehabilitation goals and initiation of outpatient rehabilitation plans.
• Ultrasound guided treatment of musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions including intra-articular injection of steroids; injection of viscous supplements for osteoarthritis of the knees; and botulinum toxin injection of salivary glands for excessive saliva production; ultrasound guided nerve blocks for pain and spasticity relief.
• Treatment of complex spasticity including botulinum toxin injections; advances physical therapy interventions such as serial casting for joint contractures.
• Acupuncture for Cancer related pain, MSK-related pain, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
• Telemedicine consultations including overseas consultation.
• Severe disability assessment (SDA) for long-term care financial assistance schemes by Agency for Integrated Care (AIC).
• Medical certification for Return to Driving after an acute illness e.g. stroke. 

Educational Excellence

The RiSE Rehabilitation Medicine Residency Programme at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is committed to excellence in training future rehabilitation specialists. 

In 2023, the programme's dedication to improvement was recognised when it received an $800 award for being the Most Improved JCST Programme. This achievement underscores SGH's commitment to high-quality medical education and patient care in rehabilitation medicine.