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Spinal Cord Injury Program

Work Back from Injury with Individualized Care

Spinal Cord Injury Program

Maximizing Independence After Spinal Injury

Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana (RHI) treats all levels of traumatic and nontraumatic spinal cord injuries. In order to improve the quality of life for patients with spinal cord injuries, RHI offers the most comprehensive individualized care to every patient that comes through our doors.

We Treat:

  • Central Cord
  • Paraplegia
  • Tetraplegia
  • Transverse Myelitis
  • Other Neurologic Disorders
  • Quadriplegia
  • Simultaneous Spinal Cord and Brain Injuries
  • Vascular and Infectious Injuries to the Spine
  • ALS
  • Guillain Barre Syndrome
  • AIDP
  • CIDP

Indiana's Best

As Indiana’s premier rehabilitation program for spinal cord injuries, RHI is equipped to treat quadriplegia, paraplegia, simultaneous spinal cord and brain injuries, vascular and infectious injuries to the spine, as well as other neurologic disorders affecting mobility (ALS, Guillain Barre Syndrome, AIDP, CIDP). Highlights of RHI Care:

  • Physicians with fellowship training and board certification in spinal cord injury medicine
  • Patient education classes
  • Assistive technology and adapted computer station
  • Home, work, and school evaluations
  • Peer guest program
  • Community outings
  • Adaptive van for driver re-education
  • RHI Adaptive Sports Program

Working With an Interdisciplinary Team 

Our interdisciplinary team provides education and training to help our patients best function after discharge. The interdisciplinary team is composed of Neuropsychology, Physiatry, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Nursing, Nursing Rehabilitation Techs, Care Coordination, Dietary, Wound Care (if needed), and Respiratory Therapy (if needed). The spinal cord injury team has specific training and experience with therapeutic interventions for patients with spinal cord injuries. 

Traumatic Spinal Cord Outcomes

Life after a spinal cord injury most likely will not be the same. The patients represented by the numbers below all received care to address every aspect of their lives.

  • In 2023, we had the privilege of treating 160 patients with spinal cord injury
  • These SCI patients represent 11.1% of all RHI patients, far more than the national average of 5.7%
  • Average length of stay: 17.1 days
  • Discharge to community: 70%
  • Return to acute hospital: 11.3%
  • Patient satisfaction scores: 91%

View RHI Spinal Cord Injury Outcomes for 2023 (PDF) >

 

OUTSTANDING DOCTOR

Dr. Julie Chow, MD

Director of Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

Expertise in the rehabilitation of spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spasticity management.

View Biography See All Staff Bios

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