Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Maryland Medical Center: Baltimore's Largest Acute Rehab Program

The Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Maryland Medical Center serves as Baltimore's primary spine and musculoskeletal pain program within a 250-bed acute rehabilitation hospital that admits patients directly from emergency departments and inpatient floors citywide. This is not an outpatient clinic or a sports medicine office; it is a full-service inpatient rehabilitation facility where patients with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and complex pain conditions spend weeks receiving daily physical therapy, occupational therapy, and interventional pain procedures under one roof.

What this program actually is

UM Medical Center's PM&R department operates as both an acute rehab hospital and an outpatient neuromuscular clinic at its Greene Street location near downtown Baltimore. The acute rehab component admits approximately 1,200 patients annually, many arriving immediately after spinal surgery, major trauma, or acute neurological events. Patients remain inpatient for an average of 17 days. The outpatient division, which includes interventional pain services, handles referrals for ongoing pain management, joint injections, and functional restoration after discharge. The department holds the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation's training accreditation, meaning fellows in the field rotate through these units, which shapes the clinical approach and research orientation of the staff.

Services and structure

Inpatient acute rehabilitation covers spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, lower-limb amputation, and orthopedic post-operative care. Patients receive occupational and physical therapy at minimum twice daily, with nursing and physician oversight integrated throughout. The department performs fluoroscopy-guided epidural steroid injections, medial branch blocks, and facet joint injections under its interventional pain umbrella. Outpatient services include electrodiagnostic testing (EMG/NCS), trigger point injections, and musculoskeletal ultrasound guided procedures.

Costs for inpatient acute rehab are bundled by Medicare and most commercial insurance plans and determined by the patient's functional impairment level at admission (measured on the Functional Independence Measure scale). Out-of-pocket responsibility depends on the individual plan's deductible and coinsurance. Verify exact coverage with your insurance before admission. Outpatient procedure costs range from $300 to $800 depending on the injection type and imaging requirement; confirm with the scheduling office prior to appointment.

How it compares to other Baltimore pain management options

UM's PM&R department differs substantially from independent pain management clinics in Baltimore. A standalone pain clinic, such as those operating under anesthesiology-based models throughout the metro area, typically focuses narrowly on interventional procedures and medication management in an office setting. UM's program integrates intensive therapy, functional restoration, and medical rehabilitation for patients who need weeks of structured, daily rehabilitation after acute injury or surgery. This suits patients discharged from hospital floors or arriving from the trauma center, not outpatients managing chronic pain alone.

For outpatient pain management alone, specialized practices affiliated with Johns Hopkins or private clinics offer shorter wait times and may have more convenient locations. UM's inpatient rehab is the choice when a patient requires 24-hour nursing, multiple daily therapy sessions, and medical oversight in one setting. The outpatient clinic serves patients with complex neuro-rehabilitative needs, not routine pain injections.

Who this program suits and who it does not

Inpatient admission suits patients recovering from spinal surgery, spinal cord trauma, moderate-to-severe stroke, or lower-limb amputation who are medically stable but unable to manage at home or in a non-medical environment for several weeks. It does not suit patients with isolated back pain, arthritis, or mild mobility loss who do not require 24-hour care; those patients belong in outpatient clinics or home health services. The acute rehab setting also may not suit patients who cannot tolerate intensive therapy (minimum two hours daily) or those who lack the cognitive or physical capacity to participate in rehabilitation.

The outpatient PM&R clinic suits patients referred by spine surgeons, neurologists, and orthopedic surgeons for ongoing post-operative rehabilitation, electrodiagnostic consultation, or interventional pain procedures as part of a structured functional restoration plan, not one-off injections.

What the first visit involves

Inpatient admission begins with a physician evaluation on day one, which includes a detailed neurological exam, imaging review, and functional assessment. Occupational and physical therapists conduct separate evaluations to set rehabilitation goals and outline the daily therapy schedule. The patient and family meet the interdisciplinary team to discuss expected length of stay and discharge planning.

Outpatient first visits involve a history and physical focused on the pain complaint and functional limitation, imaging or prior test review, and possibly electrodiagnostic testing if the clinical picture warrants it. If an intervention is planned, informed consent and procedural details are discussed. Most first visits are 30 to 45 minutes.

Hours, location, and parking

The acute rehabilitation hospital operates 24 hours. The outpatient PM&R clinic at 22 South Greene Street (near Lombard) runs Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with some specialty clinics extending to 5:30 p.m. Call 410-328-6010 to verify current outpatient hours; clinic schedules shift seasonally. Parking is available in the adjacent UM garages at standard hospital rates (verify current pricing at admission). Public transit on the Red Line and multiple bus routes serves the Greene Street location.

UM Medical Center's PM&R department is the referral destination for Baltimore patients whose pain or motor deficit requires inpatient, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, not outpatient pain injection alone.