Cardinal Hill is Hiring!  Check out our Employment Opportunities!

Cardinal Hill’s Amputee Program serves patients who have undergone amputation of one or more extremities. Accredited by CARF*, this signature program strives to help each patient achieve maximum function.  The amputation of a limb, whether through illness or accident, is an emotionally and physically traumatic experience for the patient and the family.  The team of caring professionals create an atmosphere that support the amputee patient and the family’s recovery and progress.

 Amputee Program Flyer

The Amputee Treatment Team

For a smooth transition to inpatient rehabilitation, the amputee team maintains communication with referring physicians, while focusing on the patient’s needs.  In addition to the Patient, Family and Caregiver, members of the treatment team may include:

     • Physician    
     • Prosthetist
     • Rehabilitation Nurse   
     • Psychologist
     • Physical Therapist   
     • Pharmacist
     • Occupational Therapist  
     • Dietician
     • Respiratory Therapist   
     • Chaplain
     • Care Manager/Social Worker

Family members are included in the treatment team, and we encourage active family participation as the patient works to achieve functional goals.  A rehabilitation physician and nurse are available 24 hours a day, attending to each patient daily.  Every patient is treated as an individual while working to achieve personal rehabilitation goals.  Individuals counseling, support groups, family education and referrals for community resources are all available.  Family support is a key element in a successful rehabilitation experience.

Program Features
Our Amputee Program consists of a three-phase approach (the patient can enter the program at any step along the road to recovery):

•  Phase 1 usually requires an inpatient stay of 10-14 days.  The patient may be referred shortly after surgery.  This program is led by staff who are specially trained to treat post-amputation needs.  The focus of this phase is wound healing, instruction in self-care skills, wheelchair/walker skills and home safely. The team instructs the patient and family in wound care, desensitization techniques and limb shaping.  A prosthetist may also be consulted at this time.

•   Phase 2 is a period in which the patient may be receiving home health or outpatient therapy.  IF appropriate, the prosthetist may be contacted and the patient measured for prosthesis/customized artificial limb.

•   Phase 3 begins with the completion of the prosthesis and learning to use the prosthesis to walk and/or function.  Final adjustments are made as training progresses under the direction of the patient’s primary therapist and physician.  Functional tasks such as bathing, transfers and home management may also be addressed.

Along with Medical Management, the plan of care may include:
• Innovation Technology and Equipment      
• Home and Work Evaluation
• Wound and Skin Care    
• Community Referrals
• Diet and Dedications    
• Aquatic Therapy
• Driving Evaluation    
• Recreational and Sports Activities
• Prevocational Evaluation 
• Therapeutic Community Reentry Activities

*CARF is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the person served.


Inpatient Program Outcomes
Cardinal Hill consistently achieves outcome scores than the national averages for rehabilitation services.

Inpatient Amputee Statistics:
• The Amputee Program treats an average of 70 patients annually on an inpatient basis.
• Average length of stay for Amputee Patients is 13 days. Length of stay depends on the individual’s needs.

Overall Cardinal Hill Inpatient Outcomes*
• Patients experience a 58.7% average increase in functional abilities from admission to discharge; the national rate is 56.2%.
• Rate of discharge to the community is 80.7%; the national rate is 70.7%.
*Outcomes vary according to diagnosis.

Follow-Up Service
As discharge from the inpatient phase approaches, the team recommends a plan for ongoing rehabilitation.  A follow-up visit with a Cardinal Hill physician may be scheduled, and the physician’s Discharge Summary is sent to referring physicians in acute care and to primary care physicians at home.   Referrals are made for home health or outpatient therapy services according to the individual’sneeds.  For patients planning to return to school, the team works with local school staff to ensure a successful transition back to the academic setting.  At the time of discharge, changes may be recommended in the patient’s general medical management, home program or home equipment.

Cardinal Hill provides a full range of services to accommodate entry into the rehabilitation process at any level of treatment for an amputation.  In addition to the inpatient program, we also offer:
• Outpatient Therapy    
• Community Reentry Program
• Outpatient Medical Clinic   
• Wellness Program
• Home Health Care

To make a referral or for more information
Call (859) 367-7120

Located in the scenic Bluegrass Region of Lexington, KY, Cardinal Hill is known as the region’s premier physical rehabilitation hospital.  For the thousands of patients we treat, the most important accomplishments of our services are the results we produce.