Day Neuro Rehabilitation Overview

A physiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. The physiatrist leads the team in treatment planning to accomplish unified goals. Your internist or primary care physician should handle general health needs. If a doctor outside of Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation referred you to the program, a physiatry consultation can be arranged if requested by your referring physician.

The neuropsychologist is a PhD-level psychologist with special expertise in the area of brain/behavior relationships. Specialized testing is used to determine any cognitive, intellectual or behavioral changes that may have resulted from brain injury. The neuropsychologist plays an important role in planning cognitive remediation activities with all of the team members.

Physical therapy focuses upon improving motor function, minimizing physical disabilities and restoring normal movement patterns. The physical therapist assesses and treats the areas of strength, joint range of motion, balance, endurance, motor planning, gait, transfers and mobility.

Their role is to assist in promoting maximal independence with meaningful activities of daily living such as self-care, home management and community participation. They also focus on improving skills needed for high level activities such as return to driving and work if these are appropriate goals. Initial evaluation will focus on identifying physical, cognitive and visual deficits, which may interfere with safety and independence during daily routines. The OT will develop a treatment plan to address these areas of impairment. A referral or follow-up with a neuro-optometrist may be facilitated to better assess visual impairments and develop a collaborative treatment plan to improve visual function and processing. The OT will also collaborate with the patient to ensure understanding of the recommended return to driving process which may include driving simulation, practice DMV tests, attention, processing tasks and an adaptive driving evaluation referral as appropriate.

These clinicians evaluate past leisure pursuits and help develop new leisure interests, as well as the skills necessary for successful return to an active and healthy lifestyle. They act as a resource to the patient and family in identifying activities within the community that the whole family can continue after discharge.

The case manager coordinates with all people involved in planning and implementing your treatment program. This includes problem solving issues related to financial resources, intervening in problematic situations, reviewing discharge options and making appropriate referrals upon discharge from the program.

The therapy aide - or rehabilitation aide - is specially trained and supervised by a licensed therapist to supervise activities that address your rehabilitation goals.