Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital’s Spinal Cord Injury Program established in 1978, is a specialty CARF accredited program. We serve clients with neurological and functional loss due to spinal cord injury.
A transdisciplinary approach to care ensures that the client’s progress is as smooth as possible. Team members include:
• The client & family
• Physiatrist (Physician specializing in Rehabilitation
Medicine)
• Rehabilitation Nurse
• Speech-Language Pathologist
• Physical Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Case Manager/Social Worker
• Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
• Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist
• Dietitian
• Psychologist
Appropriate consultations are provided as needed.
Clients and families are offered classes to educate them about living with a spinal cord injury. Classes include:
• Anatomy & physiology of the spinal cord
• Respiratory care
• Bladder & bowel management
• Health maintenance
• Medical complications
• Skin care
• Diet & medications
• Equipment
• Community resources/advocacy
• Options for leisure activities
The client truly is the focus at Cardinal Hill and our transdisciplinary team provides a personalized rehabilitation plan tailored to meet the needs of each client and his/her unique injury. We work with the client and family to focus on realistic, functional goals. These goals are continually reevaluated as the
client progresses toward greater independence.
The rehabilitative plan of care after a spinal cord injury may include any or all of the following services:
• Care by a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician
• Physical, Occupational & Speech-Language Therapy
• Bladder & bowel retraining
• Wound Care
• Adjustment counseling
• Sexuality counseling
• Community reentry activities
• Driving evaluation
• Home management training
• Aquatic therapy
• Vocational evaluation
• Equipment evaluation
• Evaluation of home & work environments
• Peer support program
• Community referrals
A rehabilitation physician is available 24 hours a day and reviews each client’s care daily. Rehabilitation nurses are available 24 hours a day. Unless there are medical problems, clients receive three hours of
therapy a day, Monday through Friday; with additional therapy on the weekend, when indicated.
Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Inpatient Program
The average client stay is 22 days, however the length of stay varies depending on the client’s needs.
Cardinal Hill believes that family support is a key ingredient to a successful rehabilitation experience following a spinal cord injury. We encourage the family to be active participants in the client’s
program as he/she works to achieve functional goals. We provide individual counseling, support groups and family education to prepare caregivers to deal with the client’s new needs.
The relationship with Cardinal Hill does not end when the client is discharged. Continuing rehabilitation needs can be met through regularly scheduled follow-up visits in our Outpatient Clinic, continued therapy services in either an intensive Day Program, Outpatient or Home Health setting.
• 85% of clients return to follow-up clinic
• Clients average 4 clinic visits within 1-2 years following inpatient rehabilitation
• 36% of clients attend seating & mobility clinic
• 17% of inpatients return for outpatient therapy at Cardinal Hill, averaging 50 visits over 14 weeks
Follow-up recommendations include communicating with the client’s Primary Care Physician.
For more information about Cardinal Hill’s Spinal Cord Program, call us at (859) 254-5701
Graphs - for current outcome information