Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Associates
Specialists in rehabilitation
Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Associates (SKRA) is a group of board-certified physiatrists – some with board certification in additional specialty areas – and rehabilitation nurse practitioners.
They serve as primary physicians for patients in receiving acute comprehensive rehabilitation at Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis and at United Hospital, St. Paul, with additional outreach offices in Edina and Shakopee.
They provide consultation services to hospital inpatients, assessing each patient's need for rehabilitation. Sister Kenny physiatrists see patients in their outpatient clinic and in other community settings where they develop treatment plans, prescribe medication/equipment; direct rehabilitation and educate patients and families.
SKRA provides comprehensive rehabilitation care for many conditions, including:
Frequently asked questions
What is physical medicine and rehabilitation?
Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also called physiatry, is the branch of medicine emphasizing the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders that can produce disabling conditions, particularly those related to the nerves, muscles and bones.
Physical medicine and rehabilitation is one of 24 medical specialties certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Physical medicine and rehabilitation provides integrated care in the treatment of a wide variety of conditions, from brain injury to low back pain. Physiatrists complete four years of additional training after medical school prior to beginning their medical practice.
How do rehabilitation physicians diagnose?
Rehabilitation physicians take the time needed to accurately pinpoint the source of an ailment.
Their specific diagnostic tools are the same as those used by other physicians (medical histories, physical examinations, laboratory tests, and imaging studies), with the addition of special techniques such as electrodiagnosis (EMG/NCS) that assist in understanding nerve and muscle function.
What is the rehabilitation physician's role in treatment?
After a diagnosis is made, rehabilitation physicians design a treatment plan that can be carried out by the patients themselves or with the help of the rehabilitation team.
This team may include medical professionals, such as neurologists, psychiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, and urologists; and other health professionals, such as nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, therapeutic recreation specialists, vocational counselors, psychologists and social workers.
Physiatrists may also inject medications into soft tissues, joints, or the spinal column to decrease pain, spasticity or dystonia.
What is the aim of physical medicine and rehabilitation?
Physical medicine and rehabilitation is often called the quality-of-life profession because its aim is to enhance patient performance.
The job of a rehabilitation physician is to treat any disability resulting from disease or injury involving any organ system.
The focus is not on one part of the body, but instead on the development of a comprehensive treatment program for putting the pieces of a person's life back together – medically, socially, emotionally and vocationally – after injury or disease.
Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Associates staff
Below are Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Associates' physicians and nurse practitioners:
Diane Chappuis, MD
Deborah Friedman, MD
Bradley Helms, MD
Nemesio Herrera, MD
Leslie Hillman, MD
Nancy Hutchison, MD
Stacy Lucas, CNP
Gwen Kosevich, RN, CRRN, CNP
Murali Krishnamurthy, MD
Anna Leinfelder, NP
Marie-Christine Leisz, DO
Indra Lim, MD, PhD
Joy McIver, MD
Anne Njenga, RN, CNP
Karl J. Sandin, MD, MPH, physician-in-chief
Barbara P. Seizert, MD
Jennine L. Speier, MD
Kristine Spiewak, MD
Erin Swift, RN, CFNP NP
Rebecca Weber, RN, MSN, CNP
SKRA clinic hours & appointments
Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To schedule an appointment, call 612-863-4495 for Minneapolis and Edina locations and 651-241-8295 for the St. Paul location. Please call 24 hours in advance if an appointment needs to be cancelled.
Please check with your insurance provider before scheduling an appointment to determine if Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Associates is in your insurance network.
Also, you should ask your insurer if a physician referral or prior authorization is required.