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After a spinal cord injury, one of the biggest decisions you will make is choosing where you will go for inpatient rehabilitation. With so many top-level spinal cord injury rehabilitation facilities in the country, you will need to do your research to find the one that will best help you recover. One of the best ways to go about choosing a rehabilitation facility is to call and ask them a list of pre-determined questions about the care you would receive.
Asking questions is vital when determining which rehabilitation facility is right for you. Your health and future will be in the hands of the rehab facility you choose. Your insurance coverage and physical location may also affect your decision. When finding the rehab facility for you, make sure to utilize the Spinal Cord Injury Model System: a special rating for hospitals that specialize in spinal cord injuries. A list of these top-rated hospitals can be found here: https://msktc.org/sci/model-system-centers.
Here are 20 suggested questions to ask your potential SCI rehabilitation facility:
1. How many spinal cord injury patients does your facility treat each year?
2. How many patients with a similar level of injury as mine has the facility treated before?
3. Does this facility specialize in treating spinal cord injuries, or have vast experience treating these types of injuries?
4. What kind of cutting-edge therapies does the facility offer?
5. How far is this facility from my home?
6. What is the staff to patient ratio at this facility?
7. Is this facility accredited? An accredited spinal cord injury rehabilitation facility is called an “SCI model system center.”
8. How long is the average stay at your rehabilitation facility for a spinal cord injury patient? It should be at least one month, but hopefully longer.
9. What percentage of patients return home, rather than transfer to a long-term care facility after discharge?
10. What is the average age of your rehab facility’s patients? This is an important question to ask so you can make sure you are among people close to your age. Being around patients your own age can help you feel comfortable and supported during your rehab experience.
11. How many hours per day do patients receive rehabilitation treatments from their therapy team? You will want to make sure to ask about all therapy, including physical, occupational, and recreational therapy. The facility should not provide therapy to their patients for any less than 3 hours daily.
12. Will I be treated by the same therapy team throughout my entire stay?
13. Does the facility plan recreational outings and other activities for their patients throughout the week, at night, and during the weekend?
14. Are mental health services available for patients, such as counseling, group therapy and peer support?
15. Is vocational support offered?
16. Is adaptive driver’s training available?
17. Does this facility offer any services for family, such as group therapy?
18. Does this facility offer an SCI education program for family and friends?
19. Is there low-cost or free housing available for family when they visit?
20. What additional support does this facility offer to make sure the discharge is successful?
Moving from Acute to Rehabilitation: What to Expect
Most people with SCI start rehabilitation one to three weeks after the initial injury. Depending on your transportation needs, an ambulance is typically used to bring you to your rehab facility. Keep in mind that, because of advancements in medicine and technology, the rehabilitation process is starting sooner than ever before for SCI patients, so do not be surprised to hear that you may be transferred to rehab within a month after your initial injury.
Transferring to Rehabilitation
When you are newly injured, the main focus is to heal your body and to stabilize your health, especially if you have any broken bones or other injuries in addition to your SCI. Healing can take 1 to 3 weeks, but this process can take longer depending on the severity of the additional injuries. Once your physical health is stable, your doctors will begin to assess if you are ready for rehabilitation therapy.
When patients are transferred from the hospital to rehabilitation, this is often their first time getting out of bed since their injury. Getting out of bed for the first time after an injury can be a jarring aspect of your healing process. Many people feel lightheaded and dizzy when they first sit up in their wheelchair. When transferring from your bed to a wheelchair, from a wheelchair into a transportation vehicle, and from the vehicle to the rehab center, be conscious of how you are feeling and make sure to alert the hospital staff if you feel light-headed or anxious.
Typical SCI Rehab Experience
To determine if you are ready for rehabilitation, you must prove to your doctors that you can handle at least 3 hours of rehabilitation therapy per day. 3 hours of rehabilitation per day is the standard for most rehab centers and health insurance companies. Acute rehabilitation is all about restoring function and increasing daily independence. You will partake in a lot of vigorous exercise throughout your time in rehab in order to improve your function as much as possible. In rehab, you will continuously move your entire body, which is important to your overall health and function. For more information on The Importance of Moving Your Whole Body, check out our blog post.
The acute rehabilitation experience lasts usually no longer than 1 to 3 months. At the end of your time in rehabilitation, the rehab staff will prepare you for discharge. Many of the things you learn in rehab are critical to living an independent life with a spinal cord injury, so much sure to pay close attention to your therapists and doctors.
– Watch Spinal Cord Injury – Laetitia Hatem’s Story | Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago: https://spinalpedia.com/video/4E2yjgPKRlw
Getting to Know Your Rehab Team
Once you are transferred to your rehabilitation facility, you will be introduced to an entire team of medical professionals who will be helping you during your journey to recovery. There are several different types of rehab professionals who are integral to your healing process. Any rehabilitation facility that is fully prepared for patients with spinal cord injuries should have at least 9 out of 10 of these following medical professionals:
Physiatrist
The doctor you will see while you are in rehab therapy is a physiatrist. A physiatrist is a medical doctor that specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists also specialize in treating spinal cord injuries. You will meet with your physiatrist within your first day at the rehabilitation facility, and they will create a treatment plan for you that is designed to maximize your function and recovery.
Rehabilitation Nurse
A rehabilitation facility that is prepared to fully treat individuals with spinal cord injuries will have a rehabilitation head nurse on-staff. This nurse is responsible for making sure all of the nurses are collaborating to help patients the best way possible. Head nurses are experts in spinal cord injury-related health issues concerning bladder, bowels, nutrition, pain, respiratory function, and skin care. When you are ready to be discharged, the rehab nurse will also provide education for you and your family to ensure that you and your loved ones know how to take care of you on a day-to-day basis at home.
Physical Therapist
Each day at rehab, you will see different types of therapists for at least 3 hours per day. The type of therapist you will see the most is a physical therapist. Physical therapists help you develop as much muscle as you can in your core and major extremities through intensive strength training. Physical therapists also teach you skills related to maneuvering your wheelchair. Physical therapists are also responsible for helping you improve your strength, endurance, and coordination.
Occupational Therapist
Another important therapist you will be seeing several times a week is your occupational therapist. Occupational therapists focus on improving upper-body movement and fine motor dexterity in order to help their patients become as independent as possible. Occupational therapists will help you figure out how to perform everyday tasks, such as getting dressed and brushing your teeth, in an adaptive way. Tasks that occupational therapists assist patients with include bathing, cleaning, and taking part in hobbies. Lastly, OTs are also adept at creating custom adaptation equipment and procedures for their patients.
Vocational Therapist
A good rehabilitation facility will get you thinking about life after rehab, and this usually includes considering returning back to work or school. For many people with spinal cord injuries, going back to work or school and developing a daily schedule similar to their life prior to the injury can be very therapeutic. However, if you are unable to return to your same career after your injury, a vocational therapist can help you figure out a new career path, or they can help you return to your old career by providing adaptive equipment and suggesting work accommodations. A vocational therapist will also assist you with accommodations and adaptive equipment if you are returning to school or starting higher education for the first time. Vocational therapists can help you find a school that will meet your needs.
Psychologist
The mental health of patients should be addressed at every rehabilitation facility. Typically, each patient at a rehab center will be assigned to a psychologist. Most rehab facilities will have you meet with a psychologist on a weekly basis to make sure your mental health is stable. The transition from living life as an able-bodied person to living life with a significant disability is a massive change that comes with many personal losses; mentally adjusting to life with your new injury can be difficult and can put a strain on your mental health. Your rehab psychologist can help you come to terms with your injury. Many people also experience PTSD after their spinal cord injury, and a rehabilitation psychologist can help with this as well.
Recreational Therapist
One of the more fun activities you will take part in at a rehabilitation facility is recreational therapy. In rehab, a recreational therapist will help you discover adaptive sports you may enjoy, and will work to integrate these activities into your new life. Having some kind of adaptive recreational activity to take part in regularly can greatly enhance your overall happiness.
Choosing a Rehab Facility
Questions to Ask
Photo credit: https://images.pexels.com/photos/356079/pexels-photo-356079.jpeg
After a spinal cord injury, one of the biggest decisions you will make is choosing where you will go for inpatient rehabilitation. With so many top-level spinal cord injury rehabilitation facilities in the country, you will need to do your research to find the one that will best help you recover. One of the best ways to go about choosing a rehabilitation facility is to call and ask them a list of pre-determined questions about the care you would receive.
Asking questions is vital when determining which rehabilitation facility is right for you. Your health and future will be in the hands of the rehab facility you choose. Your insurance coverage and physical location may also affect your decision. When finding the rehab facility for you, make sure to utilize the Spinal Cord Injury Model System: a special rating for hospitals that specialize in spinal cord injuries. A list of these top-rated hospitals can be found here: https://msktc.org/sci/model-system-centers.
Here are 20 suggested questions to ask your potential SCI rehabilitation facility:
1. How many spinal cord injury patients does your facility treat each year?
2. How many patients with a similar level of injury as mine has the facility treated before?
3. Does this facility specialize in treating spinal cord injuries, or have vast experience treating these types of injuries?
4. What kind of cutting-edge therapies does the facility offer?
5. How far is this facility from my home?
6. What is the staff to patient ratio at this facility?
7. Is this facility accredited? An accredited spinal cord injury rehabilitation facility is called an “SCI model system center.”
8. How long is the average stay at your rehabilitation facility for a spinal cord injury patient? It should be at least one month, but hopefully longer.
9. What percentage of patients return home, rather than transfer to a long-term care facility after discharge?
10. What is the average age of your rehab facility’s patients? This is an important question to ask so you can make sure you are among people close to your age. Being around patients your own age can help you feel comfortable and supported during your rehab experience.
11. How many hours per day do patients receive rehabilitation treatments from their therapy team? You will want to make sure to ask about all therapy, including physical, occupational, and recreational therapy. The facility should not provide therapy to their patients for any less than 3 hours daily.
12. Will I be treated by the same therapy team throughout my entire stay?
13. Does the facility plan recreational outings and other activities for their patients throughout the week, at night, and during the weekend?
14. Are mental health services available for patients, such as counseling, group therapy and peer support?
15. Is vocational support offered?
16. Is adaptive driver’s training available?
17. Does this facility offer any services for family, such as group therapy?
18. Does this facility offer an SCI education program for family and friends?
19. Is there low-cost or free housing available for family when they visit?
20. What additional support does this facility offer to make sure the discharge is successful?
Moving from Acute to Rehabilitation: What to Expect
Most people with SCI start rehabilitation one to three weeks after the initial injury. Depending on your transportation needs, an ambulance is typically used to bring you to your rehab facility. Keep in mind that, because of advancements in medicine and technology, the rehabilitation process is starting sooner than ever before for SCI patients, so do not be surprised to hear that you may be transferred to rehab within a month after your initial injury.
Transferring to Rehabilitation
When you are newly injured, the main focus is to heal your body and to stabilize your health, especially if you have any broken bones or other injuries in addition to your SCI. Healing can take 1 to 3 weeks, but this process can take longer depending on the severity of the additional injuries. Once your physical health is stable, your doctors will begin to assess if you are ready for rehabilitation therapy.
When patients are transferred from the hospital to rehabilitation, this is often their first time getting out of bed since their injury. Getting out of bed for the first time after an injury can be a jarring aspect of your healing process. Many people feel lightheaded and dizzy when they first sit up in their wheelchair. When transferring from your bed to a wheelchair, from a wheelchair into a transportation vehicle, and from the vehicle to the rehab center, be conscious of how you are feeling and make sure to alert the hospital staff if you feel light-headed or anxious.
Typical SCI Rehab Experience
To determine if you are ready for rehabilitation, you must prove to your doctors that you can handle at least 3 hours of rehabilitation therapy per day. 3 hours of rehabilitation per day is the standard for most rehab centers and health insurance companies. Acute rehabilitation is all about restoring function and increasing daily independence. You will partake in a lot of vigorous exercise throughout your time in rehab in order to improve your function as much as possible. In rehab, you will continuously move your entire body, which is important to your overall health and function. For more information on The Importance of Moving Your Whole Body, check out our blog post.
The acute rehabilitation experience lasts usually no longer than 1 to 3 months. At the end of your time in rehabilitation, the rehab staff will prepare you for discharge. Many of the things you learn in rehab are critical to living an independent life with a spinal cord injury, so much sure to pay close attention to your therapists and doctors.
– Watch Spinal Cord Injury – Laetitia Hatem’s Story | Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago: https://spinalpedia.com/video/4E2yjgPKRlw
Getting to Know Your Rehab Team
Once you are transferred to your rehabilitation facility, you will be introduced to an entire team of medical professionals who will be helping you during your journey to recovery. There are several different types of rehab professionals who are integral to your healing process. Any rehabilitation facility that is fully prepared for patients with spinal cord injuries should have at least 9 out of 10 of these following medical professionals:
Physiatrist
The doctor you will see while you are in rehab therapy is a physiatrist. A physiatrist is a medical doctor that specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists also specialize in treating spinal cord injuries. You will meet with your physiatrist within your first day at the rehabilitation facility, and they will create a treatment plan for you that is designed to maximize your function and recovery.
Rehabilitation Nurse
A rehabilitation facility that is prepared to fully treat individuals with spinal cord injuries will have a rehabilitation head nurse on-staff. This nurse is responsible for making sure all of the nurses are collaborating to help patients the best way possible. Head nurses are experts in spinal cord injury-related health issues concerning bladder, bowels, nutrition, pain, respiratory function, and skin care. When you are ready to be discharged, the rehab nurse will also provide education for you and your family to ensure that you and your loved ones know how to take care of you on a day-to-day basis at home.
Physical Therapist
Each day at rehab, you will see different types of therapists for at least 3 hours per day. The type of therapist you will see the most is a physical therapist. Physical therapists help you develop as much muscle as you can in your core and major extremities through intensive strength training. Physical therapists also teach you skills related to maneuvering your wheelchair. Physical therapists are also responsible for helping you improve your strength, endurance, and coordination.
Occupational Therapist
Another important therapist you will be seeing several times a week is your occupational therapist. Occupational therapists focus on improving upper-body movement and fine motor dexterity in order to help their patients become as independent as possible. Occupational therapists will help you figure out how to perform everyday tasks, such as getting dressed and brushing your teeth, in an adaptive way. Tasks that occupational therapists assist patients with include bathing, cleaning, and taking part in hobbies. Lastly, OTs are also adept at creating custom adaptation equipment and procedures for their patients.
Vocational Therapist
A good rehabilitation facility will get you thinking about life after rehab, and this usually includes considering returning back to work or school. For many people with spinal cord injuries, going back to work or school and developing a daily schedule similar to their life prior to the injury can be very therapeutic. However, if you are unable to return to your same career after your injury, a vocational therapist can help you figure out a new career path, or they can help you return to your old career by providing adaptive equipment and suggesting work accommodations. A vocational therapist will also assist you with accommodations and adaptive equipment if you are returning to school or starting higher education for the first time. Vocational therapists can help you find a school that will meet your needs.
Psychologist
The mental health of patients should be addressed at every rehabilitation facility. Typically, each patient at a rehab center will be assigned to a psychologist. Most rehab facilities will have you meet with a psychologist on a weekly basis to make sure your mental health is stable. The transition from living life as an able-bodied person to living life with a significant disability is a massive change that comes with many personal losses; mentally adjusting to life with your new injury can be difficult and can put a strain on your mental health. Your rehab psychologist can help you come to terms with your injury. Many people also experience PTSD after their spinal cord injury, and a rehabilitation psychologist can help with this as well.
Recreational Therapist
One of the more fun activities you will take part in at a rehabilitation facility is recreational therapy. In rehab, a recreational therapist will help you discover adaptive sports you may enjoy, and will work to integrate these activities into your new life. Having some kind of adaptive recreational activity to take part in regularly can greatly enhance your overall happiness.
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