Inpatient Rehabilitation

State-of-the-Art Rehab Facility in Cape Girardeau

As the leading inpatient rehabilitation facility in the region, Saint Francis’ state-of-the-art, 24-bed unit (23 bed facility with a transition to home apartment) offers comprehensive and coordinated programs in one convenient location for patients with cognitive, physical and functional deficits.

Our goal is to enhance every patient’s quality of life through improved health maintenance and effective injury and illness management. Our highly trained staff provide some of the most advanced approaches to rehabilitation. Together the team and patient establish individualized goals for the best treatment progression as each patient works toward achieving an optimal level of independence and improved health.

Our program significantly exceeds regional and national outcomes for returning patients back to their community. Our rehabilitation program averages 90% discharge to community, compared to regional and national averages of 75% and 77%, respectively.

Inpatient Rehab Discharge to Community

Managed Conditions

  • Amputation
  • Autoimmune Diseases
  • Brain Tumor
  • Cardiac Injury including Open Heart
  • Critical Myopathy (ie COVID-19)
  • Guillian Barre Syndrome
  • Major Medical
  • Medically Complex Joint Replacements
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Multiple Trauma
  • Stroke
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Spinal Cord Injury

Services Available

  • Physical Therapy
    Improves mobility and strength
  • Occupational Therapy
    Increases independence and quality of life related issues
  • Speech / Language Pathology
    Covers a range of deficits including language, cognition, swallowing and voice
  • Rehabilitation Nursing
    Improves bowel and bladder management, medication management, wound care and patient education
  • Case Management
    Coordinates discharge planning and equipment acquisition
  • Pastoral Care
    Provides spiritual and emotional support as well as stress reduction
  • Neuropsychology
    Helps to develop coping skills and establish appropriate expectations and modification of lifestyle in accordance with patients’ new physical limitations.
  • Dietitians
    Establish guidelines with patients to follow regarding disease specific management of food intake
  • Respiratory Therapists
    Help patients counter conditions that affect breathing and provide education to assist them in dealing with chronic disease when they return home.

Specialty Services Covered

Physical and Occupational Therapy

  • Bioness
  • Overhead Lift and LiteGait System
  • Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)
  • Vestibular Rehabilitation
  • Prosthetics and Orthotics
  • Lymphedema Management
  • Custom Upper Extremity Splinting
  • Wound Care and Management

Speech/Language Pathology

  • VitalStim Therapy
  • Fiberendoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
  • Modified Barium Swallows (MBS)
  • Deep Pharyngeal Neuromuscular Stimulation (DPNS)

Inpatient Rehabilitation Medical Director

Board certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician Heidi J. Hunter, MD, is the full-time medical director for Inpatient Rehabilitation. Dr. Hunter is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Medical school, and served as Chief Resident at Ohio State University Medical Center. Her clinical interests include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke patients.

For more information on Inpatient Rehabilitation Services, call 573-331-5980.

Reviews for Inpatient Rehabilitation

Dr Hunter is a rare find in that she truly advocates for her patients. She takes the time she needs to communicate with her patients. She never makes you feel rushed or like what ever your symptoms may be go unheard. Truly a compassionate doctor.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Dr Hunter. I’ve seen first hand the compassion she has towards her patients. Dr Hunter helps rehab patients regain their life back. Highly recommend Dr Hunter.

Dr Hunter was very diligent and caring during my stay

Dr. Hunter was very professional and compassionate. I walked out of her office feeling like she gave me hope that there are options available to try out. I feel like she is on my team and she told me she has my back, don’t worry.

Dr. Hunter is absolutely amazing and she truly cares about her patients. She is always quick to respond to any questions and I know that has to be hard, as she is a very busy Doctor. I know I am under the BEST care with her!

The visits are great. Dr Hunter, from the very first visit, has always taken the time necessary to listen to my concerns and explained all of my options before a decision was made. I have always felt that cared about what I had to say and took that into consideration when choosing a treatment. Dr. Hunter seems to be truly vested in my treatment and how it effects my quality of life. I would highly recommend Dr. Hunter,

Great Doctor

Heidi was precious. She listened to all of my needs. She addressed every issue I have. She was thorough. I have full confidence she will get me back to normal. St Francis concussion clinic hit the jackpot with Heidi

Dr. Hunter provided excellent care. We found her professional, highly competent and very compassionate. She seemed very knowledgeable about every aspect of my healthcare needs and gave wonderful guidance for his path for discharge and post discharge rehabilitation. Dr Hunter has a very kind bedside manner and is very approachable. Her empathy for her patients is obvious. She is an asset for Saint Francis Medical Center and the Inpatient Rehabilitation center. We really appreciate the care she provided.

Went to her for a injury that happened that made me have headaches alot and she took care of me