Marcus Community Bridge Program

Shepherd Center’s Marcus Community Bridge Program offers post-discharge client education, guidance and referral information after a catastrophic injury or illness. By collaborating with the individual and/or their family to devise a plan that will guide and educate them about resources and options available, they become better able to address psychosocial, career and medical issues that may arise during the first year after their injury or illness.

Program Goals

- Identify and evaluate potential obstacles in the transition from inpatient or post acute rehabilitation programs to home and community

- Monitor and facilitate patient and family independence and responsibility for health and maximum level of functioning

- Support patients to live independently, applying the skills and knowledge learned at Shepherd Center

- Expand the patient’s knowledge and availability of local resources through the use of various modalities

- Facilitate and support confidence and successful reintegration by holding clients accountable for the implementation of the steps needed to reach their goals

- Improve the client’s ability to advocate for themselves in their own lives and within the community where they live

Team Commitment

A team of experts – including registered nurses, case managers, therapeutic recreation specialists and vocational specialists – partner with newly discharged patients and their families to assure that the skills learned during rehabilitation are appropriately applied at home and in the community.

The Marcus Community Bridge Program uses telecommunications technology to maintain contact. This may include, but is not limited to, telephone, video and visual modalities, all of which can be used long distance. In addition, home visits are made if deemed appropriate to the patient’s goals.

The teams work with their clients to achieve their goals by:
- Supporting client participation with appropriate discharge plans - Reinforcing knowledge and skills learned

- Communicating recommendations to clients and external case managers in order to facilitate success

- Assessing clients for early prevention of medical complications

- Assisting clients with appropriate return to work or school needs and issues, and encouraging participation in leisure and social experiences

- Working with doctors and other healthcare professionals to provide timely information and the highest level of care for clients

Measuring Success

Since the Bridge Program’s inception:

- More than 400 clients enroll annually

- Services have been provided to patients in 19 states

- Overall Program Satisfaction, measured at the 6- and 12-month periods, is at 100 percent

- Almost 45 percent of all patients who are “employment ready” are gainfully employed within 12 months

Community Outreach

Continually looking for ways to expand services and broaden partnerships within the community, the Bridge Program has developed the following programs and collaborations:

- My Vital Connections – a Web-based educational and informational module available to clients

- “Community Connections” – a Web-based teaching module available for a small fee to community health providers

- “Know-It-All” – a Web-based resource database designed to provide information on a wide variety of healthcare-related topics

- Partnerships with AmeriCorps to provide personal assistance services to patients and opportunities to work at a variety of disability-friendly volunteer sites

Workers Compensation

If you are a workers compensation case manager or adjuster seeking more information about Bridge Program services under workers compensation, please contact Minna Hong at 404-350-7373 or email Minna.