Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program

Learn About Our Comprehensive Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program Experience

Spinal cord injury changes lives and presents physical and emotional challenges. At Shepherd Center’s inpatient spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation program, our goal is to help patients achieve their maximum potential. We help patients focus on recovering and returning to home as independently as possible.

Inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation provides strategies for active, daily mobility, as well as strengthening and range of motion exercises. Depending on their health condition and needs, patients at our spinal cord injury rehabilitation center work on different goals and progress at a pace that’s right for them. A typical inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation stay can last from four to six weeks.

Learn More About Spinal Cord Injury Outcomes

A Leading Team of Spinal Cord Injury Specialists

Shepherd Center’s team of spinal cord injury specialists is here to help optimize your spinal cord injury recovery. Our staff of more than 1,800 is made up of truly talented, caring and experienced individuals.

Our spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation unit has multiple treatment teams consisting of the following members:

  • Attending physical medicine and spinal cord injury rehabilitation physician
  • Nurses
  • Occupational therapist
  • Physical therapist
  • Speech-language pathologist
  • Recreation therapist
  • Case manager
  • Peer support specialist
  • Dietitian
  • Psychologist or counselor
  • Chaplain

Call our Admissions Department at 404-350-7345 to initiate a referral to Shepherd Center.

Watch Stories of Hope from Former Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Patients

Stories of Hope videos highlight the experiences of our patients with spinal cord injury and their families. Our patients share how their lives changed after a spinal cord injury and offer words of hope and support for others. Hearing firsthand experiences can help many people who are facing a challenging road to spinal cord injury recovery. Watch the video below to learn how Janet Paulsen rebuilt her life with help from Shepherd Center’s spinal cord injury rehabilitation program.

Admissions at Our Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Center

When patients arrive at Shepherd Center, they're greeted by our Admissions Department staff, assigned to a spinal cord injury rehabilitation team and escorted to their rooms in the therapy unit. You'll typically meet all your team members within the first 24 hours of arrival.

If you are admitted as a patient directly to our ICU, you'll first meet the ICU medical and rehabilitation staff members and move to the spinal cord injury unit when you're ready. Staff will determine the appropriate course for your inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation, and you'll begin working with your treatment team immediately to establish short- and long-term rehabilitation goals.

Your attending physician and dedicated nurses will assist you with any medical needs you may have so that you'll be at your best to focus on making progress in therapy. Your case manager will work with you and your family from day one to make sure all the necessary arrangements are in place for you to discharge from the inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation unit confident and prepared for your next step.

Therapy and Spinal Cord Injury Recovery

Therapy begins first thing in the morning for our inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation patients. It starts with each patient getting out of bed and managing his or her morning routine in preparation for a full day of activity. Your team will work with you and your family to coordinate your care, set goals and track your progress.

Our therapists will teach you the skills you'll need to get through a normal day and adjust along the way to promote spinal cord injury recovery. This includes everything from grooming and dressing to managing your schedule and working with others.

Mobility training is an important part of the therapy program in our inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation program. This includes learning how to use any device to assist with your mobility. Individual and group outings into the surrounding area will help you practice skills you'll need in your own community.

Need help identifying the right spinal cord rehabilitation center? Discover if Shepherd Center is right for you or your loved one.