St. Camillus - Brain Injury

A comprehensive approach for a complex condition
Since we know traumatic brain injury often results in a complex and broad range of impairments, we also know it demands an equally complex approach to rehabilitation. Comprehensive care and service may be required in multiple settings over an extended period of time. At St. Camillus, we meet all aspects of inpatient and outpatient treatment with a carefully balanced team approach. The result is a complete regimen of highly-personalized services.

Problems identified, treatments designed
Each person admitted to the St. Camillus Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program receives a comprehensive clinical evaluation. Any existing medical, physical, cognitive or psychosocial problems are identified and a tailor-made treatment program is designed by the Brain Injury team. We believe the individuals in our care and their families are the most important members of the team, and encourage them all to help create and implement treatment approaches and goals. The areas most commonly addressed by our team include:

    Medical care needs - Requiring physician and nursing care, nutritional needs and medication.
    Physical impairments - Sensory-motor deficits, such as impaired muscle control, decreased strength and
    stamina and balance problems.
    Psychosocial issues - Emotional or behavioral problems may interfere with rehabilitation, social functioning or overall adjustment.
    Cognitive impairments - Including decreases in basic orientation, memory, attention, problem solving, judgment and safety awareness.

Restoring daily activities/living skills
Our goal is to help individuals re-establish self sufficiency as quickly as possible, in as many areas as possible. Our therapeutic programs focus on improving each person's ability to perform the most important daily activities. We typically direct inpatient therapies towards the skill areas most needed to return the individual home. All treatment approaches are designed to improve each person's level of independence at home and in the community. Areas of day-to-day living include:

    Self-care skills - Dressing and grooming, eating, bathing and medications.
    Home-based skills - Cooking, laundry, cleaning and money management.
    Community-based activities - Shopping, accessing public transportation, school or work, leisure activities and driving.
    Vocational Rehabilitation - An assessment of how the individual may fit back into the work world. Includes testing, counseling and advocacy.

Available support programs and services
St. Camillus is a unique healthcare facility in that it operates a continuum -- or integrated system -- of care. To enhance and further rehabilitation progress, inpatients and outpatients may access a wide range of on-site support programs and services as needed during treatment and/or after discharge. They include adult day health, biofeedback training, home care and TBI waiver services, outpatient brain injury rehabilitation, outpatient nursing services, outpatient rehabilitation - physical/occupational/speech therapy, social services, and medical transport.

Other services available to inpatients are beauty/barber shop, dental services, pharmacy, podiatry, radiology, and respiratory care.

St. Camillus Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program Team

At St. Camillus, caring is a team effort. The involvement of each member is vital to success. And although we are often defined by the services we provide, our staff is known to the individuals in our care by our first names, and by the concern with which we approach each situation.

Case Manager
Working as a coordinator of services and activities for the entire team - including the individual in our care and family - the case manager handles a wide array of logistical details, including coordinating preparations for discharge. The case manager is an invaluable source of information and support for families during and after the individual's course of rehabilitation.

Dietitian
This team member evaluates and monitors each individual's nutritional status. Working closely with the attending physician and nurses, the dietitian formulates a program to meet each person's specific nutritional needs, including tube feedings and specialized diets.

Neuropsychologist
The role of this team member is evaluation of the cognitive status of a brain-injured individual, and assistance in developing treatment approaches to any problems. The neuropsychologist formulates behavior management programs and other interventions for issues of behavior or emotional adjustment.

Occupational Therapist
The occupational therapist guides individuals in developing skills which enable them to lead independent, productive and satisfying lives. These skills may include dressing, feeding, personal care, balance, mobility skills, endurance and sensory awareness.

Physiatrist
This is the attending physician whose specialty is physical medicine and rehabilitation. The physiatrist directs the medical care of the person with brain injury with the goal of medical stability and general good health. The physiatrist also creates and guides an individual's rehabilitation program with therapy team members to develop and implement optimal rehabilitative services.

Physical Therapist
Helping each person in our care maximize physical independence through a regimen of diverse physical modalities and exercises is the work of the physical therapist. Balance, coordination, flexibility, strength and endurance are addressed to improve functional mobility whether the person is in bed, in a wheelchair or walking.

Recreation Therapist
Providing recreation resources and opportunities to maximize functioning of the individual with brain injury is the work of the recreation therapist. By addressing factors limiting independence, the therapist will assess the need for adaptive recreation equipment. New or modified leisure interests may be explored to fit each person's abilities and skills.

Rehabilitation Counselor
This team member helps bring each person in our care to an understanding and acknowledgment of disability. Support and counseling is also provided to family members. Vocational assessment and other work-related services may be provided to those individuals who have set a goal of returning to work.

Rehabilitation Nurse
Compassionate and skilled nursing care for our inpatients is offered by the rehabilitation nurse. The wellness and safety of each person in our care are a top priority of this team member. Along with providing for basic medical needs and administering medications, our nursing team works with the therapy staff to teach dressing, grooming and other self-care skills.

Social Worker
This team member assists individuals and their families through each step of the St. Camillus experience: admission, treatment and discharge. The social worker is a source of the latest information available on community resources, referrals, education and advocacy.

Speech/Language Pathologist
It is the challenge of this professional to identify and develop the most efficient means of communication for each individual. Speech/language pathologists address impairments in speech and language as well as underlying thinking skills. They may also evaluate and treat swallowing problems.

Family Involvement and Services

At St. Camillus, we believe the family of an individual with traumatic brain injury can be his or her single most valuable long-term resource on the road to recovery. The Brain Injury Program Team recognizes the significance of the family in its efforts to provide quality rehabilitation. Family members are included to their fullest capacity in all aspects of care and planning. Caregivers are also provided all the tools, services and support necessary to help them become part of each treatment team.

Treatment
    Family interaction and conferences with treatment team.
    Regular attendance during inpatient and outpatient therapies.
    Review of the team action plan.
    Liberal visiting hours for inpatient and outpatient family and friends.

Education and support
    Family education and support groups meet twice a month.
    Specific family training in care and management.
    Family counseling made available as needed.

Discharge planning and follow-up
    Provider of TBI waiver services for support in home and community.
    Authorized inpatient therapeutic leave of absence.
    Evaluation of home setting by therapists to determine any modification needs.
    Discharge referrals to physicians and community agencies.
    We provide follow-up for individuals in our care.
    Vocational assistance in returning to the work world.

Links
Brain Injury Association of New York - www.bianys.org
National Stroke Association - www.stroke.org
Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association, International - www.nora.cc

Admissions/Referrals
Call Admissions at 315-488-1500 or e-mail admissions@st-camillus.org.

E-mail: admissions@st-camillus.org