Rehabilitation Medicine

We treat, care for and support people who are recovering after an injury, illness or surgery for an acquired or congenital condition.

Key points

Rehabilitation programs prescribe therapies and treatments to patients following injury, illness or surgery to get them back to their usual mobility and everyday living activities
Tailored treatment for individual patients will maximise their ability, function and participation in the community
Multidisciplinary teams provide treatments such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and psychology services, and prosthetic services
Patients (and family and carers) are provided with relevant information, and linked with appropriate support services in the community, where appropriate

Patients need a referral from their GP or healthcare provider. Access referral information

What we do

Our Rehabilitation Medicine service provides assessment, management, therapies and treatments for patients following injury, illness or surgery.

We specialise in:

Neurological rehabilitation
General rehabilitation
Orthopedic and musculoskeletal rehabilitation
Rehabilitation following amputation
Upper limb and hand rehabilitation
Cancer rehabilitation
Cardiac and respiratory rehabilitation
Spasticity rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is usually the next stage in the patient journey to full recovery after an injury, illness or surgery. Our team of doctors, nurses and therapists work with patients and consumers (and their family and carers) to give them the greatest possible recovery of function and improve their quality of life and participation.

Specialised services

Hand Hub

The Hand Hub is a robotic and computer-based gaming facility. It has been specially developed for individuals who have difficulties using their hand or arm after a nervous system injury or illness such as stroke or multiple sclerosis or brain injury. It can benefit patients learning to use an arm/hand prosthesis.

The Hand Hub welcomes referrals from all GPs, medical or physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and other health care professionals.

Activity Arcade

This unique environmental enrichment intervention is designed to facilitate physical (motor and sensory), cognitive and social activity by provision of equipment and organisation of a stimulating environment. It is proposed to help patients enhance neurological recovery through neuroplasticity.

Neuromuscular laboratory

In association with University of Melbourne, our neuromuscular laboratory is a sophisticated (8-viacon camera) laboratory for comprehensive motion analysis to allow for individualised treatment for improved outcomes. Features include movement trajectories, muscle activation strategies and movement cinematics.

Outdoor mobility stations

We offer a range of therapy stations outdoors using specific equipment to facilitate functional mobility such as a car transfer station, stair practice, recreational spaces (bocce and wheelchair chess) and varying surfaces.

Our clinics

Clinic name	Location	Options
Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic	The RMH Royal Park	Medicare
Rehabilitation Spasticity Clinic	The RMH Royal Park	Medicare
Rehabilitation Victorian Artificial Limb Program Clinic	The RMH Royal Park	Medicare

Our clinics

Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic

The RMH Royal Park

Medicare

Rehabilitation Spasticity Clinic

The RMH Royal Park

Medicare

Rehabilitation Victorian Artificial Limb Program Clinic

The RMH Royal Park

Medicare

For patients

For health professionals

Referrals

Direct Access Unit

We accept GP and specialist referrals:

Use the RMH Community Services referral form, the RMH referral form or a template from your own system
Complete and fax your referral to Direct Access Unit on (03) 8387 2217

DAU welcomes phone enquiries. Contact us on (03) 8387 2333 to discuss potential or existing referrals.

Referrals should include:

Relevant clinical history
Reason for referral
Patient details including address, date of birth and contact phone numbers
Your details and provider number
Name of the consultant (for Medicare clinics)
Investigation reports related to the referral

Referrals are triaged based on priority. In an emergency, patients can go to the Emergency and Trauma Service at any time.

For advice, urgent referrals and out of hours support, call The RMH Switchboard on (03) 9342 7000 to page our registrar on call.

Outpatient referrals

We accept GP and specialist referrals for rehabilitation outpatient clinics:

Use the RMH referral form or a template from your own system
Complete and fax your referral to Specialist Clinics (Outpatients)on (03) 9342 4234

As outlined by the Department of Health, referral requests should include:

Patient demographic information
Referrer demographic information
Reason for referral
Presenting problem
Service(s) requested
Required referral information specified by statewide or local referral criteria
Current patient management
Impact of the problem on the patient
Name of the consultant and provider number (for Medicare clinics)
Investigation reports related to the referral

Referrals are triaged based on priority. In an emergency, patients can go to the Emergency & Trauma Service at any time.

For advice, urgent referrals and out of hours support, call the RMH Switchboard on (03) 9342 7000 to page our registrar on call.

View Dept of Health guidelines

HealthPathways Melbourne provides guidance on best practice assessment and management of common medical conditions, including when and where to refer patients.

Parkville Connect is a secure web-based portal providing GPs, specialists and other health professionals with information in the Parkville electronic medical record (EMR).

Clinical overview

Specialised rehabilitation services

RMH Royal Park rehabilitation ward - 40 inpatient rehabilitation beds
Consultative Liaison Rehabilitation Service (RMH Parkville and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre). Rehabilitation assessments for patients after trauma, orthopaedic and plastics services and cancer
RMH@Home Subacute rehabilitation service - 20 bed program in community (medically supervised)
Transition Care Program - 5 bed program in community for patients with complex needs such as NDIA (medically supervised)

Specialist Clinics

Neurorehabilitation, Spasticity, Amputee, Young Adult Transition Service, CTS (Community Therapy Service), general rehab medical clinics and long-COVID clinics
Arm/hand therapy clinics (Hand Hub), use of robots to facilitate arm and hand function and Movement Laboratory assessment (if required)

Appointments

For all new appointments, contact Specialist Clinics (Outpatients) on (03) 9342 7393

To cancel or reschedule a booked appointment, contact the Clinical Centre on (03) 8387 2194

A referral is required by your GP or specialist to make an appointment.

What to bring

Every time you come

Every time you come in for a test, day procedure, surgery or treatment, you should bring:

Medicare card
Health Care card (if you have one)
Concession card (if you have one)
Adverse drug alert card (if you have one)
Medications you are currently taking, including any that you have bought without a prescription
X-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results you have which are related to your procedure
Private health insurance card (if you want to use it)
Aids (glasses, hearing aid, walking frame)

For a clinic appointment

If you come for a clinic appointment, you should also bring:

Your appointment letter
Any special items listed on your letter
Your appointment book (if relevant)
TAC or WorkCover claim number

For rehabilitation

If you come for rehabilitation, you should also bring:

Comfortable day clothes, such as a tracksuit
Well-fitting, closed-toe styled shoes with firm grip soles. Do not wear open back, slip-on slippers
Personal hygiene items, such as shampoo, shaving cream, shaver, toothpaste, and deodorant

For an overnight or longer stay

If you come for an overnight (or longer stay), you should also bring:

A dressing gown and slippers, or comfortable day clothes and shoes
Your toiletries
Your iPad or tablet and phone, provided you are happy to take responsibility for them

Do not bring (for overnight or longer stay)

And if you're staying overnight or longer, do not bring:

Your handbag, wallet, purse or large amounts of cash. Just bring a small amount for items such as newspapers, magazines or coffee
Valuables, such as jewellery, watches or other items of value to you