This department is specialized in the rehabilitation of oncology patients according to their medical and psychological needs, as well as their symptoms and complications. The staff faithfully keeps up with the latest trends and innovations in this field in order to achieve the main goal of restoring organ function, improving mobility, relieving pain, and avoiding or reducing movement limitations.
Occupational therapy is concerned with training patients to carry out daily activities, practicing their movement skills, and helping the patient's family understand their needs and enhance their independence.
The department provides its services to inpatients as well as outpatients. More than 25,000 sessions are conducted at KHCC every year.
Treatment Methods and Techniques
The Physical Therapy Unit at KHCC includes:
- Installing prostheses, and training in their use
- Exercise therapy
- Electrotherapy
- Lymphedema therapy
- Laser therapy
- Hydrotherapy
- Balance treatment, and computerized walking
- Corrective feedback therapy
- Ultrasound
- Kinesiology strapping
- Gait analysis and training
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic: Held weekly to assess which patients need rehabilitation services and to follow up on patients who are already engaged in a rehabilitation program
Vision Rehabilitation: A physical therapist and an occupational therapist follow up on patients with visual impairments. This group of patients faces special challenges; some have little vision preserved, while others are completely blind. We attempt to train those patients to use their remaining visual abilities and enhance them, use their other senses, and achieve coordination with little or no vision. This helps patients reintegrate in society and maximize use of their present skills and abilities. The process is very critical for young patients whose brain development depends on their exposure to stimulation from external environments.
Orthopedic Team: The orthopedic team is a vital part of the orthopedic unit that provides rehabilitation services to patients who underwent various types of orthopedic surgeries. The Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Unit at KHCC is a pioneer in limb salvage surgery rehabilitation, and it is a participant in the development of rehabilitation protocols published worldwide.
Breast Cancer Education Clinic: This clinic aims to educate patients who underwent breast surgery at KHCC on possible complications, as to help them return to their normal lives.
Lymphedema Program: This is a program for patients with symptoms of lymphedema, which is caused by fluid retention in the body due to a compromised lymphatic system – which is a critical condition. Through this program, we are able to help patients cope with this condition, and prevent it. The department carries out preventive training for potential patients, with the support of internationally qualified therapists in the treatment of lymphedema.
Pain Management Program: This unit participates in the pain management program to help patients manage their pain more effectively, thereby reducing the need for pain relief drugs.
Home Care Team: Therapists follow up on palliative patients and help them overcome the symptoms associated with the disease. A home physiotherapy service is available for palliative patients who are unable to attend sessions at the center.
The Rehabilitation Unit consists of:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation clinics
Training and Education Activities
The Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Unit participates in the General Nursing Orientation (GNO) lectures by educating nursing staff about safe patient handling, to ensure the safety of the staff and the patient.
The department runs workshops for most of the center's employees to train them in the skills needed to deal with work-related musculoskeletal injuries, and we also make sure that the equipment used by patients and staff is of optimum quality. The unit holds training programs for participants from outside the center, and awareness-raising lectures for the local community, and receives therapist trainees who wish to gain experience in rehabilitating oncology patients, from both Jordan and other countries.
Department Faculty
Ahmed Hamdan, Head of the Rehabilitation & Physical Therapy Department
Dr. Youssef Sarhan
Dr. Ziad Hawamdeh
Dima Abdeen
Hussam Shatara
Muhammad Al Attar
Rima Eslaih
Yazan Badwan
Faisal Ahmed
Alyan Alyan
Ludmila Lasuta
Fadia Abu Suqair