Inpatient admissions process
Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital Inpatient Services
As a leader and innovator in physical medicine and rehabilitation, Ohio State can help minimize your pain, maximize your independence and enhance your quality of life.
Expertly tailored rehabilitation care during your recovery
When you’re facing life’s greatest challenges, you’ll need a rehabilitation team that provides compassionate and advanced care to help you regain function and independence. You’ll want to come to a healing place that offers hope and a bridge to going home. For more than 60 years, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, has forged a tradition of excellence in physical rehabilitation, providing intensive therapy and unparalleled service to people with debilitating injuries and conditions.
Ohio State is home to the internationally recognized Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital, a 60-bed facility that provides coordinated and personalized inpatient treatment and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for meeting the nation’s highest standards of quality, safety and outcomes. Ranked as one of the "Best Hospitals" for rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report, Dodd Hospital and our physical medicine and rehabilitation experts are here for you and your family at every stage of your recovery.
Why choose Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital for your inpatient rehabilitation?
Legacy of Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital
Dodd Hospital was influenced by a pioneer in rehabilitation, Ernest Johnson, MD, who led the department for 37 years and was passionate about patient care. In teaching physician residents, Johnson instilled in them a patient-first philosophy. That philosophy still characterizes the motivation for our clinical staff and researchers, and the newest generations of rehab specialists come from all over the country to train and learn in that culture of healing.
Supported by specially trained physicians and evidence-based medicine
Not only do our providers have a passion for helping people regain their quality of life after a traumatic event, but our physicians are board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and have further subspecialty certifications to treat those who have had a stroke, a traumatic brain injury or other specific conditions. The therapists, nurses and psychologists who work alongside them also have advanced training.
As part of an academic medical center, the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation participates in research to improve care and implements the latest findings into daily practices.
Multiple programs recognized by CARF
Dodd, as a whole, is accredited by CARF for its Comprehensive Integrative Inpatient Rehabilitation Program, but several of its condition-based services are also recognized for quality outcomes. Our brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke and cancer rehabilitation programs are all CARF-accredited for their excellent care.
Dodd was the third rehabilitation hospital in the United States to be awarded the accreditation for its inpatient cancer rehabilitation program, and is one of only three inpatient rehab facilities in Ohio that has a CARF designation for both its brain injury and spinal cord programs.
Outstanding outcomes for people needing inpatient therapy services
- 14days for average length of stay
- 95%of patients were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their care
- 1,248patients served in 2024
- 79%of patients discharged to home
- 4CARF-accredited specialty rehab programs
Specialty rehabilitation and therapy programs at Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital
Our inpatient hospital is home to a variety of programs that offer personalized treatment plans based on your diagnosis, overall health and rehabilitation goals. These specialty condition-based programs include:
- Amputee Rehabilitation
- Assistive Technology
- Cancer Rehabilitation
- Disorders of Consciousness
- Rehabilitation Psychology
- Spasticity Management
- Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
- Stroke Rehabilitation
- Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation
- Wheelchair Seating and Mobility
We also have a variety of other therapy-related services available to help you on your healing journey.
What is inpatient rehabilitation care?
Inpatient rehabilitation involves intensive therapy, typically at least three hours a day for five days a week, that’s administered under the guidance of a physiatrist while you stay overnight in a rehabilitation hospital. You must have an underlying medical reason for 24/7 nursing care and meet other criteria, such as needing at least two of the three major therapy interventions: physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology. People may also receive music therapy, recreational therapy, massage therapy or certain treatments through our partnership with the Center for Integrative Health while in inpatient rehabilitation.
A physiatrist is a doctor specializing in physical medicine and rehab and is responsible for developing treatment plans for people recovering from injuries, chronic conditions or disabilities. The physiatrist will guide the care team, which includes specialized rehabilitation nursing staff, to focus on individual needs and ensure the best outcomes and patient independence.
What is the difference between inpatient and outpatient therapy?
The main difference is that with inpatient rehabilitation, you stay overnight at a hospital and need medical care throughout the day. Your condition is usually more serious, requiring more intensive and varied therapies.
Outpatient therapy takes place in a therapy gym or a doctor’s office, and you go home in between treatments. Therapy sessions typically last only about an hour, one or more times a week.
How long will I be in inpatient rehabilitation?
Your stay at Dodd will vary depending on a variety of factors, including your condition and progress goals. However, the average length of stay at Dodd across all types of conditions is roughly two weeks. With a patient-centered approach to care, your goals drive what we do in therapy and how long it takes.
Who is a candidate for inpatient therapy care at Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital?
The therapy experts at Dodd treat a wide range of conditions and injuries. They include but aren’t limited to:
- Brain and spinal cord injuries
- Cancer
- Amputation
- Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and other movement disorders
- Stroke
- Disorders of consciousness
- Multiple fractures
- Car accident injuries, and other injuries caused by traumatic events
- Surgery recovery
There are many different scenarios that could cause someone to need inpatient therapy; however, you must meet certain criteria to be admitted into the hospital. Please call the hospital at 614-293-4630 if you or a loved one needs inpatient rehabilitation, and we’ll work with you and your insurance provider to determine eligibility.
Comprehensive rehabilitation care
Whitney Luke, MD, shares the comprehensive rehabilitation care model available at Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital for catastrophic injuries, such as stroke, spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury. Learn how treatments and therapies, including physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy, are used to create personalized care based on the patient and type of injury sustained.