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Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD

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Specializes in: Physiatry (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation)

University of Illinois College of Medicine

Professional interests include: spinal cord injury, pressure ulcers (bedsores), amputation

5758 S. Maryland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637

1-888-824-0200

Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD is a physiatrist in CHICAGO, IL specializing in physiatry (physical medicine & rehabilitation). She graduated from University of Illinois College of Medicine. Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD is affiliated with Sinai Chicago and The University of Chicago Medicine.

Office Locations

1414 S FAIRFIELD AVENUE
CHICAGO, IL 60608

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1401 South California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608

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The University of Chicago Medicine

5758 S. Maryland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637

1-888-824-0200

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Some issues Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD can help you with:

Pressure Ulcers (Bedsores)

Commonly referred to as bedsores, pressure ulcers or pressure sores are areas of injured skin that result from staying in one position for a long period of time. Being bedridden or confined to a wheelchair puts a person at a high risk of developing such sores. The most commonly affected sites are the buttocks, hips, lower back, shoulder blade and spine areas, and backs of arms and legs. A pressure ulcer typically starts out as tender, reddish skin and may turn into a shallow wound that appears like a blister. At the next stage, it becomes a deep wound with yellowish dead tissue and some exposed fat. The most severe pressure ulcers are large wounds with dark dead tissue and exposed muscle or bone. Early detection and treatment are crucial as ulcers tend to develop rapidly and cause infections that could eventually lead to organ failure.

Mild sores may heal on their own when pressure on the affected area is reduced. This can be accomplished by simply repositioning the body every hour. If the sores are painful or infected, medications such as pain relievers and antibiotics may be prescribed. Cleaning the wound and changing dressings regularly also help the healing process. Severe pressure ulcers, on the other hand, may require surgery, which involves removal of any damaged, infected, or dead tissue and closing the wound. Wound closure can be achieved either by stitching the skin edges together or by using a flap of the patient's own tissue.

If a patient needs to have pressure ulcer surgery, they will likely be on bedrest for a few weeks to allow the wound to heal completely. The patient and their family members will be given instructions on positioning and transfer techniques to help keep pressure off the wound. When the doctor thinks the patient is ready, he or she will give the patient special exercises to help them regain their range of motion. To prevent the recurrence of ulcers, patients or their caregivers should be diligent about changing positions regularly, observing for early signs of new pressure sores, and replacing any worn-out mattresses or cushions.

Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury medicine is a branch of medicine that treats damage to the spinal cord from an injury or a nontraumatic myelopathy, which is any disorder that affects the spinal area. The spinal cord is a section of nerve tissue protected by the vertebrae (spinal bones). Trauma to the spinal cord, typically caused by compression or bent vertebrae, prevents the body and brain from communicating. This can result in pain, loss of sensation, and impaired physical function and movement. Acute spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are a leading cause of permanent disability. Spinal cord injuries may develop from accidents or myelopathies, disorders that provoke spinal compression. Traumatic incidents such as falls, sports injuries, vehicle accidents, and bullet or stab wounds can cause an acute spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury medicine seeks to stabilize the spine and to alleviate the symptoms of spine damage. Practitioners of spinal cord injury medicine are called spinal cord injury specialists. Spinal cord injury medicine is an interdisciplinary field, meaning physicians of various specialties may be trained to treat spinal cord injuries.

Damage to the spinal cord may initially be diagnosed through X-ray, MRI, or CT scans. Patients can also undergo spinal exams to evaluate their sensory ability and strength. Injuries to the spinal cord can be complete (no feeling or sensation) or incomplete (some feeling or sensation remains). Conditions spinal cord injury medicine specialists may treat include:

Paralysis, such as paraplegia (loss of function in the legs), or quadriplegia (loss of function from the neck down)
Spine fracture or trauma, which can lead to impairment and/or significant pain
Spinal infections
Myelopathies, such as herniated disks, spinal tumors, and rheumatoid arthritis
Inflammatory diseases such as ankylosing spondylosis, and degenerative conditions like Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)

Treatment for spinal cord injuries often involves surgery, either directly after an injury occurs or at a later date. Surgery for spine injuries is intended to ease spinal compression and stabilize the spine. Surgical procedures can involve shifting vertebrae, removing bone, or altering spinal placement with implantable devices. Patients with significant spinal trauma may require urgent surgical intervention.

Surgical treatments can be complemented by rehabilitative physical therapy to improve mobility. Spinal cord injury specialists also treat complications arising from a spinal injury, such as respiratory or bladder conditions. Some patients with spinal cord injuries may require lifelong treatment. Spinal cord injury specialists aim to help these patients successfully adjust and lead an improved quality of life. An emerging treatment for spinal cord injuries is neural prosthetics, which replicate patients' lost nerve function. Neural prostheses may be used as artificial body parts or assistive devices that patients may cognitively control. Other assistive devices include wheelchairs and scooters.

Spinal cord injury specialists may collaborate with physical therapists, radiologists, neurologists, urologists, and orthopedists.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“"It's unlike anything I've seen, and I've been doing rehabilitation for a long time, almost 29 years," said Dr. Michelle Gittler, medical director at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital and chief...”—"'It's one thing to survive the infection, but what's next?' Some COVID-19 patients need rehab to walk, talk and problem solve", Chicago Tribune, May 2020

“Among the speakers was Dr. Michelle Gittler, his physician at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital who had met Rick part of the way on his "Faces of America"trek back in 2000.”—"Man dies 24 years after Aurora shooting left him paraplegic: 'He tried to live fully, richly, passionately'", Chicago Tribune, June 2018

“"What we're confronting with the violently acquired injury, they're going home to where they were shot," said Dr. Michelle Gittler, a physiatrist and expert on violently acquired spinal cord...”—"After the shots ring out: Regrets and redemption", MSNBC, March 2013

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD treated as a physiatrist in CHICAGO, IL during 2012 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	57
hospital care	260
inpatient care	260

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD treated as a physiatrist in CHICAGO, IL during 2013 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	67
hospital care	257
inpatient care	257

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD.

**Gender**
Male	132
Female	108

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	175
Hispanic	40
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	65
From 75 to 84	53
85 and over	23
Less than 65	99

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD in 2013

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	32
Ischemic Heart Disease	57
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	56
Asthma	24
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	60
Dementia	22
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD treated as a physiatrist in CHICAGO, IL during 2014 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	44
hospital care	232
inpatient care	232

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD.

**Gender**
Male	97
Female	104

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	146
Hispanic	40
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	50
From 75 to 84	52
85 and over	20
Less than 65	79

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD in 2014

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	61
Stroke	27
Ischemic Heart Disease	53
Depression	43
Chronic Kidney Disease	52
Asthma	19
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	13
Heart Failure	44
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	57
Dementia	31
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD treated as a physiatrist in CHICAGO, IL during 2015 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	50
hospital care	383
inpatient care	383

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD.

**Gender**
Male	190
Female	180

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	268
Hispanic	72
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	106
From 75 to 84	70
85 and over	34
Less than 65	160

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD in 2015

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	39
Ischemic Heart Disease	57
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	63
Asthma	24
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	15
Heart Failure	50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	63
Dementia	32
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD treated as a physiatrist in CHICAGO, IL during 2016 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	52
hospital care	77
inpatient care	77

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD.

**Gender**
Male	53
Female	36

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	60
Hispanic	18
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	22
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	51

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD in 2016

Hypertension	71
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	16
Ischemic Heart Disease	43
Depression	44
Chronic Kidney Disease	52
Asthma	29
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	44
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	46
Dementia	36
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD treated as a physiatrist in CHICAGO, IL during 2017 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	41
hospital care	51
inpatient care	51

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD.

**Gender**
Male	46
Female	30

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	48
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	21
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	36

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD in 2017

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	28
Ischemic Heart Disease	43
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	57
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	41
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	16
Diabetes	55
Dementia	41
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD treated as a physiatrist in CHICAGO, IL during 2018 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	37
hospital care	93
inpatient care	93

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD.

**Gender**
Male	66
Female	53

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	71
Hispanic	36
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	33
From 75 to 84	27
85 and over	13
Less than 65	46

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD in 2018

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	30
Ischemic Heart Disease	61
Depression	45
Chronic Kidney Disease	66
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	19
Atrial Fibrilation	19
Heart Failure	55
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	29
Diabetes	56
Dementia	42
Cancer	9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD treated as a physiatrist in CHICAGO, IL during 2019 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	32
hospital care	106
inpatient care	106

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD.

**Gender**
Male	61
Female	51

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	74
Hispanic	24
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	31
From 75 to 84	32
85 and over	11
Less than 65	38

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD in 2019

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	37
Ischemic Heart Disease	56
Depression	47
Chronic Kidney Disease	73
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	18
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	48
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	65
Dementia	59
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD treated as a physiatrist in CHICAGO, IL during 2020 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	19
hospital care	135
inpatient care	135

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD.

**Gender**
Male	52
Female	36

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	60
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	20
From 75 to 84	21
85 and over	11
Less than 65	36

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD in 2020

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	20
Ischemic Heart Disease	49
Depression	38
Chronic Kidney Disease	66
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	16
Heart Failure	49
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	63
Dementia	49
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD treated as a physiatrist in CHICAGO, IL during 2021 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	15
hospital care	63
inpatient care	63

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD.

**Gender**
Male	45
Female	34

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	55
Hispanic	12
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	28
From 75 to 84	15
85 and over	11
Less than 65	25

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD in 2021

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	32
Ischemic Heart Disease	53
Depression	51
Chronic Kidney Disease	56
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	20
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	35
Diabetes	53
Dementia	46
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD treated as a physiatrist in CHICAGO, IL during 2022 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care	13
inpatient care	13

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD.

**Gender**
Male	36
Female	19

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	0
Black	38
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	15
From 75 to 84	0
85 and over	0
Less than 65	25

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD in 2022

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	65
Stroke	42
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	40
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	20
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	38
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	29
Diabetes	45
Dementia	24
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD treated as a physiatrist in CHICAGO, IL were hospital care and inpatient care.

doctor visit	41
hospital care	151
inpatient care	151

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD.

**Gender**
Male	70
Female	59

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	90
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	0
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	22
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	24
85 and over	11
Less than 65	54
65 to 74	35

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and diabetes.

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	27
Ischemic Heart Disease	45
Depression	37
Chronic Kidney Disease	52
Asthma	12
Osteoporosis	8
Heart Failure	43
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	23
Diabetes	51
Atrial Fibrillation	10
Cancer	4
Dementia	34

Education & Training

Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD graduated from University of Illinois College of Medicine. She completed residency at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital. She is certified by the Board Certification: Spine Neurological Surgery - Neurological Surgery and has a state license in Illinois.

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine

Residency: Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital

Board Certification: Board Certification: Spine Neurological Surgery - Neurological Surgery

Licensed In: Illinois

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Sinai Chicago

The University of Chicago Medicine

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Aetna PPO, CIGNA PPO, CIGNA POS, CIGNA HMO, MultiPlan PPO, Medicare Advantage, Aetna POS, Medicare, Humana, PHCS PPO, Aetna Medicare PPO, United W500 Emergent Wrap, Aetna Better Health *see insurance page, United Options (PPO), CountyCare *see insurance page, BCBS HMO (HMOI) (specialists only), United Select (HMO & EPO) (specialists only), University of Chicago Health Plan (UCHP), United Choice HMO (specialists only), BCBS Blue Precision HMO (specialists only), Aetna HMO (specialists only) and United Choice Plus POS/PPO.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO

Aetna PPO

CIGNA PPO

CIGNA POS

CIGNA HMO

MultiPlan PPO

Medicare Advantage

Aetna POS

Medicare

Humana

PHCS PPO

Aetna Medicare PPO

United W500 Emergent Wrap

Aetna Better Health *see insurance page

United Options (PPO)

CountyCare *see insurance page

BCBS HMO (HMOI) (specialists only)

United Select (HMO & EPO) (specialists only)

University of Chicago Health Plan (UCHP)

United Choice HMO (specialists only)

BCBS Blue Precision HMO (specialists only)

Aetna HMO (specialists only)

United Choice Plus POS/PPO

Ratings & Reviews

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Michelle S. Gittler, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Allergan Inc.	$271 BOTOX $271
Coloplast Corp	$197 CONTINENCE CARE $165	SPEEDICATH $32
Smith & Nephew, Inc.	$56 Santyl $56
Convatec Inc.	$14 AQUACEL AG $14
EMPI, INC.	$13 TENS $13

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$298
Education	$253

Biography

Dr. Michelle Gittler's specialty is physiatry (physical medicine & rehabilitation). Areas of expertise for Dr. Gittler include spinal cord injury, amputation, and pressure ulcers (bedsores). She usually is in-network for Blue California, Aetna, and CIGNA Plans, as well as other insurance carriers. Dr. Gittler graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. For her professional training, Dr. Gittler completed residency programs at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, Weiss Memorial Hospital, and Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. She has received professional recognition including the following: Chicago Super Doctors. Dr. Gittler is professionally affiliated with Sinai Chicago and The University of Chicago Medicine. Doctor.com reports that she is closed to new patients at this time.