Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
The mission of the UPMC Mercy physical medicine and rehabilitation residency program is to enhance the quality of care provided to persons of all ages with physical or cognitive impairment and disability through the education and training of competent rehabilitation physicians in the medical specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Physical medicine and rehabilitation is a specialized branch of medicine certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties and provides integrated care in the treatment and rehabilitation of neuromusculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and other disorders that result in temporary or permanent disability. The goal of this specialty is to maximize patients’ functional abilities. Physicians who specialize in this field are called physiatrists and the specialty is referred to as physiatry. The physiatrist assists the patient in reaching his potential, not only physically, but also vocationally.
Physiatrists offer non-surgical interventions in a variety of settings including rehabilitation centers, acute-care hospitals, nursing homes, and private practice. The physiatrist directs rehabilitation programs for patients by prescribing and supervising physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, rehabilitation nursing, and other allied health personnel contributing to the multidisciplinary team.
Physiatrists also specialize in the diagnosis of certain muscular and nervous system conditions including neck and back pain. Through their specialized knowledge of electromyography and electrodiagnosis, physiatrists are able to diagnose conditions causing pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness.