Shepherd Center - A Catastrophic Care Hospital

You may designate your gift to be used in a particular area that interests you, such as patient care, clinical research or educational programs for people with disabilities.

The following is a list of programs and services at Shepherd Center that are dependent on your gifts:

Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute at Shepherd Center Fund – This fund supports the Andrew C. Carlos MS Institute at Shepherd Center, which treats hundreds of people with MS each year, using a wide range of neurological and rehabilitative services.

Animal Assisted Therapy Fund – Specially-trained dogs assist patients with physical therapy, motor skills, strength and endurance.

Annual Fund – This fund supports patient programs that are most in need (as determined by the hospital board and trustees.)

Assistive Technology Fund – Donations to this fund pay for the latest high-tech diagnostic and demonstration equipment for independent driving, communication, environmental control, computer access and preparing meals.

Brain Injury Program Fund – Supports patient therapy treatments for the inpatient rehabilitation program and the Day Program at Shepherd Pathways, as well as to purchase patient therapy equipment for the Acquired Brain Injury unit.

Capital Projects Fund – Supports Shepherd Center's long-term capital needs and maintenance for buildings and equipment.

Chaplaincy Fund – Chaplains provide counsel, support, faith materials and Sunday worship services for patients and families.

Disability Advocacy Fund – This fund helps Shepherd Center act as an advocate for disability rights. Donations help Shepherd Center identify and research disability rights issues and educate staff and the community. Donations also help Shepherd Center organize local self-help networks and act as a local resource for state and national groups that focus on advancements for people with disabilities.

Horticultural Therapy Fund – Patients are introduced to adapted tools for gardening as well as flower arranging and craft use as part of a program to develop new leisure skills among people with disabilities.

Injury Prevention Fund – This fund provides for Shepherd Center's Think First injury prevention program in which a staff member travels to area schools to talk with children about how to prevent catastrophic injuries.

Marcus Community Bridge Program – After returning home from Shepherd Center, patients are monitored for up to a year by our staff to ensure physical regimens and prescriptive therapies are followed with a goal to reduce recidivism back into a hospital.

Multiple Sclerosis Research and Development Fund – Shepherd Center provides a clinical environment for studies on MS disease-modifying therapies, rehabilitation, symptom management and patient education. Funds are also used for patient assistance.

Noble Learning Resource Center Fund – This fund helps Shepherd Center maintain its in-center, consumer health library for brain and spinal cord injuries and related conditions. The library contains a book and audio-visual collection, medical journals, literature and databases. Internet access is available for patients and families.

Patient Care Fund – This fund enables Shepherd Center to serve patients who have little or no insurance, as well as those who qualify for government assistance, but find that reimbursement does not begin to cover their actual costs of care.

Patient Equipment Fund – Provides vital equipment such as wheelchairs or braces to patients with limited financial resources.

Spinal Cord Injury Fund – This fund is used primarily to purchase the array of equipment used in the Spinal Cord Injury rehabilitation program.

Therapeutic Recreation Fund – Shepherd Center offers a variety of sports and leisure activities for patients and others with physical disabilities. This fund supports therapeutic recreation specialists, who work to build self-confidence for people with disabilities and improve their overall quality of life through cultural arts, sports and fitness, outdoor activities and horticultural therapy.

Virginia C. Crawford Research Institute Fund – This fund helps support clinical research studies at Shepherd Center in the areas of spinal cord injury, brain injury, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular conditions. As part of Shepherd's research initiative, the Center collaborates with a number of business, industry and academic partners to develop, refine and evaluate new treatments, including drugs, surgical techniques, diagnostic tools and various therapy interventions.

Vocational Services Fund – Shepherd Center provides current and former patients with vocation counseling, evaluation and job placement services. The fund allows Shepherd to partner with employers and community resources to increase employment for people with disabilities.

Web Site Development Fund – The hospital's Web site provides patients, physicians, researchers and patient families with up-to-date and concise data about the facility and its services, including medical research and quality of life information for former patients.

Yancey Housing & Transportation Fund – A family presence is often critical to the patient's rehabilitation. For families traveling from outside the metro-area, the hospital provides free, short-term housing so they can be near while their loved one is receiving care.