Providence St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Medical Center offers a specialized amputee program focused on helping patients regain their quality of life and return to their communities with strength and confidence.
Our Approach
We help patients return to their communities healthy, strong and ready for what’s next. As the only Level I Trauma rehabilitation hospital in the Inland Northwest, St. Luke’s has helped patients with amputations regain their lives for more than two decades.
Because no two amputations are alike, our interdisciplinary team partners closely with you to set goals and support your best outcome. We focus on improving quality of life and helping you return home as quickly and smoothly as possible—and we regularly discharge more patients to home than the national average for rehab facilities.
No matter what type of amputation you have, our standard of care stays the same. Our hallmarks include:
St. Luke’s inpatient and outpatient programs are fully accredited by the Joint Commission and CARF International, beacons in the medical community that hold health care facilities to the highest level of consistency and compliance.
Joint Commission - Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) - Accredited
Learn more about what to expect during your stay at St. Luke’s, from your initial assessment through recovery and discharge planning.
Your first few days at St. Luke’s focus on evaluations by your full care team. These assessments help identify areas of strength and challenge and define your goals for care.
Most patients participate in about three hours of therapy per day, at least five days per week, though this can vary based on individual needs. Therapists meet you where you are and adjust sessions as needed to help you work safely toward your goals. If you feel sick or tired, let your therapist know so sessions can be modified to match what you can tolerate.
Friends and family are encouraged to attend and participate in therapy sessions. Care teams may also provide videos or handouts so loved ones can follow your progress and understand how to support your recovery.
Much of your recovery takes place in the first three to six months after amputation surgery. During this time, it’s important to focus on maintaining strength and flexibility and monitoring proper wound healing. You may wear a special cast or dressing to help prepare for a possible future prosthesis.
Recovery after an amputation is most effective when you are challenged to complete tasks you can successfully achieve. When activities are too easy or too difficult, they don’t provide the same benefit.
Our therapists specialize in identifying the “just-right” challenge for you — activities that push you while still allowing you to succeed. This approach builds confidence and supports meaningful progress. We work with you and your family to choose challenges that matter to you, while taking how you feel into account each day.
Your rehabilitation team meets weekly to plan for your discharge and next steps. These discussions include:
Determining your estimated discharge date
Planning where you will go after discharge and how to make that transition as safe as possible
Anticipating the level of support you may need from family or caregivers
Recommending follow-up therapies and medical care
Identifying community services such as meal delivery, caregiver support or transportation
Collaborating as a team to address any barriers to returning home safely
When it’s time for you to leave St. Luke’s, your care team will determine which therapies you would continue to benefit from and arrange ongoing services. These may include:
Outpatient therapies
Home health therapies
Home health nursing
Bath aide services
Your rehabilitation doctor will determine which follow-up medical appointments are needed, and St. Luke’s will schedule them after discharge.
