Why Choose Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation at The Rehabilitation and Research Center?
We are proud to be the only rehabilitation facility in the Richmond area with a dedicated, specialized team working with patients with spinal cord injuries. The Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Program at the Rehabilitation and Research Center at Virginia Commonweath University Health System provides comprehensive State-of-the-Art care with a commitment to improve hope, function and quality of life. Our focus and main goals are geared toward using our expertise to empower you and your family to be as independent as possible and to assist you in making strides in areas such as:
-
Coping and Loss
- Mobility
- Transfers
- Dressing
- Grooming
- Feeding
- Voice and Speech
- Home and Community Barriers
Spinal Cord Injury Education Program:
During your stay in rehab, you and your family will have the opportunity to participate in the SCI education series that may be vital to success after discharge home. Education is offered individually and in a group format which allows for our patients to share and learn from each other. The topics that are covered throughout the series include:
- SCI Anatomy and Medical Complications
- SCI Skin Care
- SCI and Nutrition
- SCI and Exercise
- Psychosocial Adjustment
- SCI Bowel Care
- SCI Bladder Care
- Mentorship
- SCI and Sexuality
- Equipment 101
- Discharge Planning
- Round Table / Coping Group
- Substance Abuse
- Home Modification
Discharge Planning:
Throughout the Rehab admission, your team of doctors, nurses, therapists and social workers will be working toward you gaining function and independence. While you are focused on meeting your rehab goals, your discharge planning will also begin. You will have a Social Worker and Follow-Up Care Coordinator specialized in Spinal Cord Injury working with you and your family to ensure a seamless transition home and to the next level of therapy. Some of the areas emphasized during the discharge planning process are:
- Home Accessibility
- Transportation
- Financial and Community Resources / Services
- Follow-up Therapy
- Long-term Health Care Planning
Spinal Cord Injury Research Program:
The goal of the Spinal Cord Injury Research Program is to pursue medical and therapeutic advancements in care and outcomes in Spinal Cord Injury. VCU is one of the leading academic centers in the nation for spinal cord injury research.
Leading Therapy Tools and Programs:
- "Circuit Resistive Training and Therapeutic Exercise"
- "Early Motor Recovery after SCI"
- "ERGYs" - Functional Electrical Stimulation
- "LiteGait" - Locomotor Training
- "TekScan"- Pressure Mapping System
- "MotoMed" - Active Assistive Range of Motion Ergometer of Upper and Lower Body
- "Bioness" - Functional Electrical Stimulation of the Hand
SCI Outreach and Dissemination:
SCI Symposium: Our 17th annual conference entitled "GPS: SCI road map to success" will be held September 27th-28th, 2009 in Virginia Beach. The goals and mission of our annual SCI Symposium is to educate both professionals and consumers on the latest technology and treatment as is related to spinal cord injury.
For More Information please contact:
Brenda Kitchen, MA, CRC, CCM
P.O. Box 980661
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0661
Phone:(804) 828-2156
Fax: (804) 628-5022
E-mail: bkitchen@mcvh-vcu.edu
17th Annual SCI Symposium Brochure.pdf
Spinal Cord Injury links:
- VCU PM&R Spinal Cord Injury Information and Research: www.pmr.vcu.edu/programs/sci : Provides information and research results conducted by the PM&R staff at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center.