Partner Sites:
Frazier Rehab Institute/
    Jewish Hospital

Clark Memorial Hospital

Floyd Memorial Hospital
    and Health Services

Learn more about SIRH and our unique partnership

Brain Injury Program

A trauma to the brain can result in life altering affects to a wide variety of bodily systems. Any of the following are possible effects from a brain injury. Medical complications Physical impairments Cognitive/perceptual impairments Emotional impairments

Brain Injury Program
Southern Indiana Rehab Hospital's Brain Injury Program has a specialty certification from CARF, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. This national certification ensures that SIRH is providing the highest quality of care to those individuals experiencing a brain injury. SIRH also has staff certified by the American Academy of Brain Injury Specialists as Level 1 Brain Injury Specialists.

Acute Rehabilitation
This program is designed for individuals of all ages who can benefit from an intensive, functional, outcome-oriented program. The treatment team consists of the patient; family; physician; occupational and physical therapists, speech and language pathologist; certified brain injury specialists; rehab nurses; psychologists; case managers; nutritionist (dietician), therapeutic recreation specialist and others as necessary.

The goal for the acute rehabilitation phase is to return the individual to the community. Treatment priorities include:  mobility; activities of daily living; functional communication and swallowing; psychosocial skills; cognitive and behavioral improvements; community re-integration; patient and family education.

Outpatient/Day Hospital
The outpatient/day hospital program is designed for those individuals who have completed inpatient rehab or for individuals from the community, who do not require nightly medical management, yet require therapeutic interventions. The focus of outpatient rehab is on home and community re-integration. During the outpatient phase, treatment generally focuses on re-integrating the person back into work, school, leisure etc.

Community Programs
Southern Indiana Rehab is the host of the Southern Indiana Brain Injury Support Group, which is chapter of the Brain Injury Association of Indiana. The group meeting is held on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

Brain Injury Prevention Programs
SIRH also has dynamic prevention programs that are provided to school aged children. The first is a Brain Injury Prevention program for first and second grade school children. This fun and interactive program focuses on teaching the children where the brain is located, what the brain's role is in the body, what could happen if the brain gets hurt and how to protect the brain. During the program the children get to see and feel a Jello brain and a demonstration as to how to properly wear a bicycle helmet.

Project P.L.A.Y.
Another program that is offered to the community is Project P.L.A.Y. (Positive Leisure Awareness for Youths). This fun and interactive program is geared for fifth grade school children. The program focuses on disability awareness and injury prevention. Children are given the opportunity to participate in a leisure activity such as basketball or tennis while using a wheelchair. Discussion is held on prevention of injury and integration of family and peers into leisure activities once an injury has occurred.

When a person has sustained a brain injury, it is best to receive rehab services from an experienced interdisciplinary treatment team. Southern Indiana Rehab Hospital has professionals who are specially trained to treat individuals with brain injuries.