Patient Admissions Department

Patient referrals can be made by a physician, hospital discharge planner or social worker, insurance company case manager, or a patient’s family member, friend or advocate.

Our staff of admissions liaisons can begin the inpatient admissions process anywhere in the United States within 24 hours of referral on business days. We offer this service free of charge and often serve as the referring facility’s primary educator and resource for family members.

Inpatients can be admitted from an acute-care hospital (including ICU-to-ICU transfer), subacute care, long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) facility or nursing home. We help families through the admissions process with an action plan that identifies important next steps for families to take.

Insurance Accepted

Shepherd Center accepts virtually all types of insurance plans including workers compensation, traditional insurance plans, managed care plans and Medicare and Medicaid. Our admissions staff is available if needed to help negotiate service with your provider if you learn that your loved one is not approved for treatment at Shepherd Center. Find out if your plan participates with Shepherd Center. Read more.

Diagnoses Treated at Shepherd Center

Shepherd Center offers acute medical and rehabilitation treatment to patients with a new injury or a recent onset of illness for the following diagnoses. Note that not all of these diagnosis would result in an inpatient admission and are subject to insurance benefits guidelines.

• Traumatic spinal cord injury for patients age 12 and above that has resulted in paraplegia, tetraplegia, high tetraplegia (including ventilator-dependent patients)
• Brain injury for patients age 12 and above (including traumatic brain injury, encephalitis, anoxia and tumor) and patients who are semi-comatose or minimally conscious
• Stroke (for people who are medically and functionally appropriate)
• Dual diagnosis (spinal cord and acquired brain injury)
• Non-traumatic spinal cord injury, such as spinal cord infarction, aneurysm
• Multiple sclerosis
• Transverse myelitis
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Spinal tumors
• Medical complications arising from any of the above conditions, such as
  • Scoliosis
  • Complications associated with spinal cord and brain injury
  • Wound/skin care
  • Brachial Plexus injury or lesions
  • Septicemia
  • Urinary tract infection
  • Pneumonia and other pulmonary disorders
  • Symptoms of neurogenic bladder
  • Unstable spinal column (non-neuro deficit)
  • Pain, spasticity and restorative procedures for better hand function, and bladder and bowel control

Schedule an Outpatient Visit

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. These programs provide individualized, integrative care and include family members when appropriate.

Make an Appointment

To schedule an appointment or obtain more information, call Outpatient Services at Shepherd Center:

Phone: 404-352-2020
Hours: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
Learn more