Thousands of people receive significant brain injuries every year. Due to remarkable advances in emergency medical care, most of these people survive. However, a sudden injury to a family member or friend can be a very frightening and overwhelming experience.

The Brain Injury Program at Southeastern Regional Rehabilitation Center (SRRC) focuses on the needs of each individual by providing a specialized program that helps the patient and family deal with the physical, social, behavioral, psychological, cognitive and vocational problems that accompany a brain injury.

The Brain Injury Program serves individuals who have problems with self-care skills, home living skills, mobility, speech, thinking skills, memory, leisure skills, adjusting to their injuries, and locating community resources.

With head injury rehabilitation, SRRC emphasizes the critical importance of active family participation. Because we are a regional center, we are more accessible to family members and can involve them in all aspects of the patient’s therapy. The SRRC staff is also able to provide families with the support they need at this critical time.

The Rehabilitation Team

A large number of professionals work as integral members of the rehabilitation team. Team members include individuals from medical services, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and audiology, neuropsychology, therapeutic recreation, nutrition services and vocational services.

The program manager serves as the liaison between the treatment team and the patient’s family, as well as any other involved parties. Patients may receive consultations from physicians and specialists in neurology, psychiatry, substance abuse and other relevant areas.

The Rehabilitation Process

An important part of brain injury rehabilitation is providing a secure, safe and structured environment for the patient and family during recovery and treatment. SRRC prides itself in providing such an environment.

Rehabilitation nurses are on duty 24 hours a day. One of our physiatrists (physicians specializing in rehabilitation medicine) is on the premises during daytime hours and on call 24 hours a day.

The development and implementation of an individual plan of treatment is an important aspect of the Brain Injury Program. After a complete evaluation by all members of the team, the patients and their families, in conjunction with the treatment team, develop a comprehensive treatment plan to meet each patient’s unique needs.

The team members meet weekly to discuss and update the treatment plan. They also discuss plans for follow-up services following discharge.

Patients generally receive six to eight hours of therapy a day, beginning in the morning when the rehabilitation nurses work with the patients on dressing, grooming and feeding themselves.

During the day, patients receive individual and group treatment. In the evening, they participate in structured outings and activities. While much of the therapy is provided on an individual basis, we have found that group therapies can be quite effective in treating some problems. Group therapies may target deficits in problem solving, socialization, daily living skills, memory or mobility.

Family involvement and support is an important part of the rehabilitation process. SRRC staff schedule family conferences to help family members learn about brain injuries and to allow them to ask members of the treatment team specific questions. Support groups are also available to help both the patient and family deal with the changes in their lives.

Quality of Care

The staff at SRRC keeps abreast of advances in brain injury by attending and speaking at various professional meetings. They also maintain professional accreditations and certifications by attending continuing education classes. In addition, the Brain Injury Team is actively involved in providing education and training to various community organizations and agencies regarding the consequences of brain injury.

Southeastern Regional Rehabilitation Center is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations ((JCAHO), an indication of a quality program.

Rehabilitation services are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare Standard, Tricare Prime, Worker’s Compensation and private insurance.

Recovery

The brain-injured patient’s stay at SRRC is an important step in his or her recovery. The staff at SRRC strives to assist the patient in attaining a higher level of functioning as quickly as possible. The program manager, with input from the team, makes an appropriate plan for discharge that will help the patient to continue the gains already made.

More than 85 percent of patients discharged from the program are able to return to their own homes, making rehabilitation a cost-effective means toward independence. Many patients continue to make progress after leaving SRRC, and some return to work.

If you would like more information about the Brain Injury Treatment Program, please call (910) 609-6091 or you may call toll-free in North Carolina at 1-800-682-7005.