How to Choose a Rehabilitation Provider

Here are some tips to help you choose a rehabilitation provider who is right for you.

Choosing a rehabilitation provider is very important in the road to improving your health. Any provider you choose should make you feel comfortable and be included in all aspects of your care. When you decide on a provider for rehabilitation or any other health care service, you will want to ask questions about the care you will receive. It may be difficult to know what types of questions to ask, but Sharp Rehabilitation Services can help you.

When you are ready to choose a provider, get referrals from other physicians and health care workers you know or recommendations from family and friends. Ask questions about the physicians, interdisciplinary team and the facility where you will receive treatment. Below are questions to consider when choosing a provider.

Do the provider's services match your needs?
Choose a provider with services that best matches your needs. Here are some questions to ask a potential provider:

• How can your services help me?
• What are your hours?
• What services do you offer? 
• Where are you located?  

Sharp Rehabilitation Centers offers a wide range of comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services. To learn more, please visit programs and services.

How do you feel when you walk in to the provider's facility?
Your impressions are important when you visit a provider. Here are some things to look for:

• Are people treated with dignity?
• Do the staff members appear to respect cultural differences?
• Do the premises appear to be well maintained, clean and safe?
• How do the staff members respond to the people receiving services?
• Is the building accessible?

Sharp Rehabilitation Centers take pride in our community atmosphere. We use state-of-the-art equipment and are very accessible with features such as handrails, automatic doors and ramps. To find a Sharp Rehab Center near you, please visit locations.

What do staff members tell you about the services that will be provided?
When you talk to staff members of a potential provider, you will have lots of questions. You might want to take notes so that you can review the answers to your questions later. Below are sample questions you may want to ask:

• Are there opportunities for my family or friends to participate?
• Can you help with transportation?
• How long does it take to begin services?
• How often will I receive services and how long will they last?
• How will my privacy be protected?
• How will the services be individualized to meet my needs?
• If I need other assistance, such as help with feeding or using the restroom, can you help me?
• What can I do if I am unhappy about the way I am treated or the services I receive?
• Will reasonable accommodations be provided if I need them?

Sharp Rehabilitation Centers have a number of experienced team members and, depending on your needs, they will assist in providing an intensive individualized treatment plan. The team works closely with both the patient and the physician to ensure treatment needs are met every step of the way.

How can you ensure you receive quality care?
Your rehabilitation provider should be concerned about your satisfaction and the quality of services provided. Below are questions to ask to ensure you receive quality care:

• Are your services accredited by an internally recognized organization?
• Are your staff members licensed, certified or credentialed for the work they do?
• Is the organization involved in a community advocacy effort? What advocacy and community groups are involved with your organization?
• What are the results for people like me who have used your services?

Quality is important to us. Sharp Rehabilitation Centers have been leading the community for almost 50 years in comprehensive rehabilitation services, and each year we strive to do better. Our progressive therapy combined with our education and community programs ensure that each individual reaches and maintains his or her highest level of performance.

The Sharp Rehabilitation inpatient program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Sharp is also a member of the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association (AMRPA) and the California Rehabilitation Association (CRA). 

Find a Physical Therapy Doctor
To find a Sharp-affiliated doctor, search for a San Diego physical therapy doctor or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm.

For More Rehabilitation Information
To learn more about Sharp Rehabilitation Services, please call a clinical evaluator at 858-939-3097 or send us an email. To find general information about rehabilitation, visit Rehabilitation in Adult Health or read the Rehabilitation News archive.