s part of the University Hospital network, rehabilitation services are made available for patients who use our Level 1 Trauma Center, neurological and intensive care services, and the hospital's medical/surgical services. Patients are also admitted from outside the hospital system. Appropriate admissions to the brain injury rehabilitation program would include individuals who are experiencing physical and cognitive impairments as a result of the following medical diagnoses and/or conditions:

Traumatic Brain Injury (resulting from falls, accidents, and other head trauma)
Intracranial Hemorrhage
Cerebral Anoxia
Infectious or Metabolic Brain Injury
Cerebrovascular Accident
Aneurysm Clipping and/or Rupture of Arteriovenous Malformation
Encephalopathy
Brain Tumor

Components or the Brain Injury Program

Coma Recovery: This is a structured system of sensory stimulation designed to increase the patient's level of arousal and ability to interact with their environment in meaningful ways. As the patient develops a greater capacity for interaction, increasingly intensive therapy is carefully orchestrated to enhance re-emerging abilities. As the patient's level of arousal increases, they are gradually transitioned into the acute brain injury rehabilitation program.

Acute Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Functional recovery is emphasized through intensive interdisciplinary therapy that addresses the patient's physical, cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial needs. The ultimate goal is to maximize the patient's functional abilities to permit the

greatest degree of independent living possible. Activities that facilitate relearning of prior skills and development of compensatory techniques for handling difficulties are designed to maximize and complement the brain's natural recovery process. This occurs during individual and group treatment.

Community Reintegration: Through community-based activities, our clinicians strive to provide patients with practical experiences that will help them return to an active and meaningful lifestyIe in their home, work and and/or school environment. Patients are taught to utilize strategies and available resources to maximize their confidence and ability to function in the community once they are discharged from the hospital. Therapists work very closely with the patients and their families to identify areas of interest and select appropriate outings that will be beneficial and enjoyable for them.

Upon admission to the brain injury rehab program, each patient will have a thorough medical and neuropsychological assessment to deter­mine functional status and scope of their physical and cognitive impairments. Appropriate treatment and therapeutic services are then provided under the direction of the physiatrist, and realistic discharge goals are defined by the team.

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