Spinal Cord Injury Program

For more than 30 years, Shepherd Center's Spinal Cord Injury Program has helped to restore hope and rebuild the lives of thousands of people who have sustained a traumatic injury or illness that has resulted in temporary or permanent paralysis.

Shepherd Center treats a high volume of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with any level of injury, including those who are ventilator dependent or have a dual diagnosis of spinal cord and brain injury. Shepherd Center has specialized treatment teams that are dedicated to adolescent patients, senior patients (age 50 and older), and patients who require medical/surgical care.

Our patients go on to achieve some of the greatest functional improvements from the time they are admitted to the time they are discharged when compared to similar facilities and national statistics.

Our Continuum of Care includes:

Acute Care / ICU
Beginning a rehabilitation regimen within two weeks of injury can lead to increases in functional improvement and more cost-effective medical care for people with spinal cord injury. Shepherd Center has a ten-bed intensive care unit and accepts patients directly from emergency rooms and aggressively starts rehabilitation from day one.

When patients are admitted to Shepherd Center's ICU, they are evaluated by physicians who have extensive experience in catastrophic care. These physicians determine the appropriate course for rehabilitation and begin working with the treatment team immediately to establish short- and long-term rehabilitation goals.

Inpatient Rehabilitation
Shepherd Center's inpatient rehabilitation program for spinal cord injury begins when the patient is able to participate in three hours of daily therapy. A team of professionals works together with you and your family to coordinate your care, set your goals and keep track of your progress.

Once a patient is stable and able to actively participate, a full-scale inpatient rehabilitation program begins with several hours of therapy each day. Our physical, occupational and recreation therapists teach mobility, activities of daily living and reintegration back into the community.

Our team of psychological counselors and education coordinators monitor the psychological readiness of each patient, and begin family training programs for patients and family members, who will learn about the injury, its consequences, and how to prepare for life after discharge from Shepherd Center.

Through the Marcus Community Bridge program at Shepherd Center, our experts help you make sure that the skills you learn during rehabilitation are applied at home and in the community. They also help coordinate your equipment needs, arrange for follow-up care and assist with back-to-work or back-to-school goals. 

Day Program
Shepherd Center's Day Program enables patients who no longer need 24-hour nursing care to continue their recovery and rehabilitation while living in nearby apartments provided by the Center.

Services are focused on the functional return of skills necessary for community reintegration. Services you may need include physical or occupational therapy, nursing, respiratory therapy, counseling sessions, therapeutic recreation and educational training sessions. Depending on your goals, you may need these services for a few days or a few weeks. The day program also helps minimize the chance of further medical complications that are secondary to the neurological injury or illness.

Going home and perhaps back to work or school can be stressful. We offer a wide range of services to help make this transition go smoothly, including:

Medical care

Our nursing care continues in the day program and may include care for neurogenic bowel and bladder, spasticity, blood pressure, blood clots, contractures, strength and mobility issues.

Return-to-work counseling

You may or may not be able to return to the same type of work you did before your injury. Our counselors will help you find a job or career that's right for you.

Back-to-school program

Through our No Obstacles program, you and a Shepherd therapist design a back-to-school plan that can include in-school awareness and sensitivity training for school staff and students, as well as instruction regarding medical issues, which may come up during your school day.

Life-skills training

Our therapists help you practice the skills you'll need to get through a normal day. This can include everything from grooming and dressing to managing your schedule and working with others.

Mobility training

Outings into the surrounding neighborhood will help you practice skills you'll need in your own community.

Family/caregiver training

We offer classes for your family or other caregivers to make sure they understand your injury or illness and your needs.

Housing for patients in the day program is provided at no cost for the duration of the rehabilitation program. To qualify for housing, patients must live more than 50 miles outside Atlanta.

Outpatient Services
Outpatient Services at Shepherd Center provides medical treatment, therapies and care for people with disabilities for a wide range of needs on an outpatient basis. Our programs provide individualized, integrative care and include family members when appropriate.
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