Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1129198
PATRICIA TAN, MD, FA APMR, A PEDIATRIC PHYSIATRIST WITH MORE THAN 30 YE ARS OF E XPERIENCE, HA S JOINED ST. CHARLES HOSPITAL, WHICH IS AN ESTABLISHED LE ADER IN REHABILITATION ON LONG ISL AND AND BE YOND. DR. TA N IS BOA RD- CERTIFIED in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pediatric rehabilitation medicine. She is well known in the region and a familiar face at St. Charles Hospital, where she served as a staff physiatrist from 1996 to 2003 and as Medical Director of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation from 2001 to 2003. Dr. Tan returned to St. Charles from Columbia University Medical Center where she worked as a pediatric physiatrist. Her medical specialization is a natural fit at St. Charles, where she appreciates the opportunity to continue the work and legacy of those who came before her as part of a more than century long mission of providing compassionate care for children in need of rehabilitation and specialty care services. It is St. Charles' keen focus on patient-centered care that feels most congruent with her calling. At St. Charles, Dr. Tan evaluates and treats patients with muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, traumatic injury and a host of physically and neurologically complex conditions. For her, each day is a busy one, every hour guided by a passion to put patients first and be truly present for each child and family she sees. Dr. Tan starts her morning with rounds in St. Charles Hospital's pediatric rehabilitation unit. Every week, she reviews patients' progress and goals at multidisciplinary care team meetings. Dr. Tan meets with patients' families as well. Lunch, she says, is often dedicated to teaching, with in-services for staff and residents or lunch-and-learns with local physicians. During her week, Dr. Tan also sees patients on an outpatient basis at St. Charles Hospital's Outpatient Specialty Care Center and St. Charles Rehabilitation's outpatient network location in Melville. Additionally, she remains current on research about best practices in rehabilitation medicine and educates other physi- cians about her work. A RANGE OF HARD-TO-FIND RESOURCES By seeing patients in multiple settings, Dr. Tan's provides patients greater access to her specialized services. "I know it's difficult for some of our patients to travel," Dr. Tan says. "I take it upon myself to do the traveling for them." Dr. Tan offers a range of procedures and services not easily found elsewhere on Long Island, including evaluation for durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics, splints and braces, Botox injections for spasticity or excessive drooling, intrathecal baclofen pump therapy, and more. BY JENNIFER WEBSTER Experienced Pediatric Physiatrist Brings Specialized Care to St. Charles Rehabilitation 1 2❱❱❱❱❱ P H Y S I C I A N S P O T L I G H T