Rehabilitation

Susan Heller, director of rehabilitation, received her B.S. degree in physical therapy from New York University in 1971. She has a wide and varied background in physical therapy, including prior positions at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and Long Island Jewish Hospital in New Hyde Park, N.Y. She also worked at Good Samaritan Hospital and Venture Day Treatment, both in Rockland County, N.Y.  

In 2002, having been nominated by a resident, the County Legislature presented her with a “Pride of Rockland Award” in recognition of her skill in rehabilitation and for her caring attitude.

Her wide background and diversified experience have served her well. Since joining Friedwald Center in 1975, she has been instrumental in expanding Friedwald’s physical and occupational therapy capabilities as the Center has added adult day care, long and short-term rehabilitative care and post acute care to its services.

Susan and her staff perform on-site rehabilitative evaluations of individuals before entering Friedwald Center and these evaluations continue throughout rehabilitation.

The rehabilitation staff is excellent, with two physical therapists, one physical therapy assistant, one occupational therapist, one occupational therapy assistant and two rehab aides. A speech therapist is on staff three days per week and a physiatrist (specialist in physical medicine) is available one day per week. And of course the rehabilitation center employs state-of-art equipment to help the therapists in their work.