Traumatic Brain Injury: 3 Stages of Rehabilitation

The initial acute medical intervention for victims who’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) focuses on dealing with any life-threatening issues, eliminating pressure on the brain and helping to stabilize the patient. After this initial period, the continuum of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation consists of three segments, explains WebMD.com.

Stage 1 of Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Inpatient

The inpatient rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury commences upon the patient’s medical stabilization. Each TBI patient will have a rehabilitation treatment team that will provide care while the patient is in the facility. The members of the team will work together to create a discharge plan and an outpatient treatment plan. The needs of each TBI patient are complex and require a number of professionals to meet those needs.

Team members include:

• rehabilitation physicians;
• psychiatrists;
• neuropsychologists;
• rehabilitation nurses;
• physical therapists;
• occupational therapists;
• speech therapists;
• recreational, music and art therapists;
• vocational counselors;
• social workers; and
• the patient’s family members.

Inpatient rehab involves physician supervision and active therapies. “The overall principle of rehabilitation is for individuals with TBI to incorporate compensation strategies into their lives at the same time as they are trying to improve and recover their functions,” explains WebMD.

Stage 2 of Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Community Integration

When the patient is ready to be discharged from inpatient rehabilitation, the community integration phase of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation begins. In this phase, the TBI patient is medically stable and is able to participate safely in the community.

Patients who suffered a mild TBI may be able to return quickly to their work and social roles. However, many patients with moderate to severe TBIs display significant symptoms that prevent them from successfully re-entering the community.

A number of community integration options are available for patients to help them with their residual disabilities and difficulty integrating into normal daily life.

Community integration services include:

• patient education;
• independent living services;
• group homes;
• personal assistant services; and
• vocational rehabilitation.

Stage 3 of Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Lifetime of Care

Some patients have long-lasting cognitive, behavioral, psychosocial or physical difficulties that require a lifetime of supervised care. The degree of care and the services utilized are unique for each patient, depending upon the symptoms and needs.

Some of the options in this stage of care include:

• community-integrated rehabilitation holistic day treatment;
• neurobehavioral programs;
• residential programs;
• home-based community integrated rehabilitation services; and
• long-term care in a skilled nursing setting.

Lifetime of care can mean different things for different patients. Some people with a TBI may need around-the-clock care in a facility, while others may need help only a few hours per week with difficult tasks, such a shopping or banking.

Treatment and care for a TBI is complex, multi-tiered and wide in scope. WebMD explains the ultimate goal of care: “Supporting the unique needs of the individual with TBI is the key to optimizing quality of life and success.”

Legal Help for Accident Victims with TBI

If a loved one suffered a TBI in an accident that any party was responsible for, there may be a legal avenue of recourse for compensation for the rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury in addition to the initial medical costs. If you reside in or near Arvada, feel free to contact our TBI attorneys at the law office of D.J. Banovitz for a consult. Contact attorney D.J. Banovitz today for a no-obligation case evaluation at 303-300-5060.