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Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Centers

Almost 3.2 million people in the United States suffer from disabilities as a result of traumatic brain injury, according to the Brain Injury Association of America. Many of these people need rehabilitation and care.

The costs associated with traumatic brain injury treatment and rehabilitation can be extremely high. If you or a loved one have been harmed due to someone else's negligence or wrongdoing, it is important that you understand the legal issues of your situation. You may be entitled to compensation to help offset medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and other expenses. A traumatic brain injury attorney can assess your case and help determine if you are eligible for such compensation.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Centers

There are three main types of treatment centers:

  • Acute Hospitals
  • Rehabilitation and Therapy Centers
  • Post Acute Treatment Centers

Depending on the location and extent of the personal injury, patients may need ongoing care for a few months to several years. Patients with severe brain damage may need assisted-living care indefinitely.

Acute Hospitals. Patients who have sustained traumatic brain injury need immediate medical attention. Though they are often transported to the nearest hospital, in some instances patients must be transferred to a trauma center to receive the appropriate care.

Medical professionals at acute hospitals work quickly to stabilize patients' vital signs, including heart rate and breathing. They also attempt to prevent complications and further brain damage. In some instances, this may require immediate surgery.

Some acute hospitals have a rehabilitation unit to which traumatic brain injury patients are transferred once they are stabilized. Other hospitals refer patients to a separate acute rehabilitation center.

Rehabilitation and Therapy Centers. Once a patient's medical condition is stabilized, he or she is transferred to a rehabilitation center, or therapy center. Rehabilitation and therapy centers are staffed by skilled medical professionals who specialize in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. Depending on the center, this may include physiatrists, neuropsychologists, rehabilitation nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists. Together, they work as a team to help patients regain lost skills and learn to live independently.

Patients at rehabilitation and therapy centers typically need treatment for several months or, in some cases, longer. Some patients with severe brain damage need about three hours of therapy daily to achieve optimal progress. Qualified therapy and rehabilitation centers for traumatic brain injury patients are endorsed by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

Post Acute Treatment Centers. After patients have completed their program at a rehabilitation or therapy center, they are released to return home or advised to receive ongoing care. Some patients need outpatient programs to help them regain lost skills. A few examples of outpatient traumatic brain injury programs are behavioral programs, outpatient therapy, vocational services, day therapy and community support programs.

Patients suffering from moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, as described by either the Glasgow Coma Scale or the Rancho Los Amigos Coma Scale, may need transitional living or assisted-living programs. Transitional living programs offer support for patients learning to live independently in a community, while assisted-living programs provide long-term care to those who are unable to live alone.

Comatose patients may be transferred to a coma treatment center, which is specifically equipped to treat patients with low levels of consciousness.

Treatment Centers for Traumatic Brain Injury

In 1987, the U.S. National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) established the Traumatic Brain Injury Models Systems (TBIMS) program to promote research and further our understanding of traumatic brain injuries. The TBIMS includes 16 treatment centers and four longitudinal follow-up centers that offer world-class, comprehensive treatment for open head injury and closed head injury.

  • UAB TBI Model System
    University of Alabama at Birmingham
    Birmingham, AL
    (205) 934-3283
  • Northern California TBI Model System
    Santa Clara Valley Medical Center
    San Jose, CA
    (408) 793-6433
  • Rocky Mountain Regional Brain Injury System
    Craig Hospital
    Englewood, CO
    (303) 789-8202
  • Mayo Clinic Traumatic Brain Injury Model System
    Mayo Medical Center
    Rochester, MN
    (507) 225-5109
  • JFK-Johnson Rehabilitation Institute Traumatic Brain Injury Model System
    JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute
    Edison, NJ
    (732) 906-2645
  • New York Traumatic Brain Injury Model System
    Mount Sinai School of Medicine
    New York, NY
    (212) 659-9372
  • Carolinas Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Research System
    Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation
    Charlotte, NC
    (704) 355-4330
  • The Ohio Regional TBI Model System
    The Ohio State University
    Columbus, OH
    (614) 293-3830
  • Moss TBI Model System
    Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute
    Philadelphia, PA
    (215) 663-6153
  • The Virginia Commonwealth University TBI Model System
    Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia
    Richmond, VA
    (804) 828-3704
  • University of Washington Traumatic Brain Injury Model System
    University of Washington
    Seattle, WA
    (206) 685-0935
  • The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
    Chicago, IL
    (800) 354 REHAB (7342); (312) 238-1000
  • Southeastern Michigan Traumatic Brain Injury System (SEMTBIS)
    Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan/Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center
    Detroit, MI
    (313) 966-7682
  • Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury Systems (NNJTBIS)
    Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research & Education Center
    West Orange, NJ
    (973) 731-3600
  • TIRR/Memorial Hermann Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Model System
    The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research
    Houston, TX (713) 799-5000
  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center/Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation
    Dallas, TX
    (214) 648-3111

Longitudinal Follow-up Centers

  • Georgia Model Brain Injury System (GAMBIS)
    Emory University, Shepherd Center
    Atlanta, GA
    (404) 350-7560
  • Spaulding/Partners Traumatic Brain Injury Model System
    Harvard Medical School
    Boston, MA
    (617) 573-2625
  • TBI Model System of Mississippi
    Methodist Rehabilitation Center
    Jackson, MS
    (601) 364-3448
  • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Traumatic Brain Injury Model System
    University of Pittsburgh
    Pittsburgh, PA
    (412) 648-6979

Additional Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Centers

To learn more about traumatic brain injury treatment and ongoing care, please continue reading articles on this site. If you believe you or your loved one may be entitled to compensation, a traumatic brain injury lawyer can help evaluate your specific situation.

[Last revision: November 2009]

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