Our rehabilitation services teams play a vital role in helping patients regain independence, mobility and confidence after illness, injury, surgery or changes in physical or cognitive function. Through coordinated physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech‑language pathology and specialized therapy services, our teams provide goal‑oriented, evidence‑based care that supports recovery across all stages of life. Using individualized treatment plans, therapeutic activities, advanced techniques and compassionate support, Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s rehab professionals empower patients to return to meaningful daily routines and improve their overall quality of life.

Physical Therapist

Physical therapists helps patients improve movement, strength, balance and overall physical function after injury, illness, surgery or disability. Physical therapists use exercise, manual therapy and specialized equipment to help patients restore mobility and reduce pain.

How Do I Become a Physical Therapist?

• Earn a doctor of physical therapy degree.
• Complete clinical rotations.
• Pass the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE).
• Obtain state licensure.

What a Typical Day Looks Like

Our physical therapists may:

• Perform and document initial exams and evaluations.
• Develop individualized treatment plans.
• Carry out therapeutic interventions to improve mobility and reduce pain.
• Reassess progress and adjust treatment as needed.

Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical therapist assistants work under the direction of physical therapists to help patients improve movement and function through exercise, mobility training, and therapeutic activities.

How Do I Become a Physical Therapist Assistant?

• Complete an accredited physical therapist assistant associate degree program.
• Complete clinical training.
• Pass the NPTE for physical therapy assistants.
• Obtain state licensure.

What Does a Typical Day Look Like?

Physical therapy assistants may:

• Assist patients with exercise programs and functional mobility.
• Monitor patient performance and report progress to the physical therapist.
• Provide therapeutic treatments, such as heat, ultrasound or electrical stimulation.
• Measure range of motion or vital signs during treatment sessions.

Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapy helps patients regain the skills needed for daily living — such as dressing, bathing, cooking, working and participating in meaningful activities. Occupational therapists focus on improving independence and quality of life.

How Do I Become an Occupational Therapist?

• Earn a master’s degree or doctorate in occupational therapy.
• Complete clinical fieldwork.
• Pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam.
• Obtain state licensure.

What Does a Typical Day Look Like?

Occupational therapists may:

• Test and evaluate patients’ abilities to set realistic rehabilitation goals.
• Develop personalized treatment plans.
• Provide training for daily living skills.
• Educate and train caregivers for ongoing support.

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Occupational therapy assistants support occupational therapists by guiding patients through therapeutic activities that build independence with daily tasks such as grooming, dressing, cooking or fine‑motor coordination.

How Do I Become an occupational therapist assistant?

• Complete an accredited occupational therapy assistant associate degree program.
• Complete required clinical fieldwork.
• Pass the NBCOT exam for occupational therapy assistants
• Obtain state licensure.

What Does a Typical Day Look Like?

Occupational therapy assistants’ tasks may include:

• Leading patients through therapeutic activities to improve daily living skills
• Assisting with gathering evaluation information
• Training patients and caregivers on home programs
• Documenting patient performance and reporting progress to the occupational therapist

Speech‑language Pathologist

A speech‑language pathologist focuses on assessment and treatment of speech, language, voice, swallowing, and communication disorders across all ages.

How Do I Become a speech-language pathologist?

• Earn a master’s degree in speech‑language pathology.
• Complete required clinical fieldwork.
• Pass the Praxis national certification exam.
• Obtain state licensure and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association certification.

What Does a Typical Day Look Like?

Speech-language pathologists may:

• Develop and implement individualized treatment plans.
• Treat speech, language, swallowing, voice and cognitive‑communication disorders.
• Monitor patient progress and adjust care.
• Collaborate with physicians, psychologists and social workers.

Music Therapist

According to the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), music therapy is “the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals for people of all ages and ability levels within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.” 

How Do I Become a Music Therapist?

• Earn a bachelor’s degree in music therapy or post-baccalaureate equivalency from an AMTA‑approved program.
• Complete supervised clinical internships.
• Pass the Certification Board for Music Therapists exam to become a board‑certified music therapist.

What Does a Typical Day Look Like?

A music therapist:

• Determines patient needs through chart review and real-time assessment tools.
  • Research has demonstrated that music therapy can have significant positive outcomes, including:
    • Reducing pain and need for pain medicine
    • Decreasing anxiety
    • Decreasing the amount or frequency of sedation medication
    • Improving breathing abilityElevating mood and emotional state
    • Decreasing length of hospitalization
    • Decreasing time on a ventilator
    • Increasing patient participation in treatment/therapies

• Implement intentional, individualized music‑based therapies to improve motor skills, emotional regulation, speech (expressive and receptive), cognition, orientation, coping, expected grief, family support and more.
• Facilitate individual or group music therapy sessions.
• Document patient progress and collaborate with interdisciplinary team members.

Are You Interested in a Rehabilitation Services Career?

Here’s how you can get started!

• Job shadow: Norton Healthcare offers job shadowing opportunities so you can observe therapy roles firsthand and determine if a career in the field is right for you!

Job Search

Start your career here by exploring rehabilitation services opportunities.

Student Clinical Placements

We welcome students in allied health disciplines seeking meaningful clinical learning experiences across our hospitals and outpatient locations. We offer a variety of placement opportunities designed to support skill development, professional growth and exposure to real‑world patient care. Different academic programs may use various terms for these required experiences, including clinical placements, internships, externships, practicums, preceptorships or rotations.

To explore placement options or submit a clinical rotation request, visit the Student Clinical Placement/Student Experiences page on our website.