2.1. What to expect in impatient rehabilitation (streaming video presentations)

From SHARP HealthCare in San Diego, this Sharpe video presentation explains the role of acute rehabilitation and the resources available through a quality rehabilitation center.

Shepherd Center (Atlanta, GA) TV rehabilitation video overview

2.2. The importance of rehabilitation

In his autobiography, A World to Care For (Random House, 1977), the father of rehabilitation, Dr. Howard Rusk wrote: "...once a person overcomes a disability through his own courage, determination and hard work, he has a depth of spirit you and I know little about.....[this] is a branch of medicine in which the patient has more power than the doctor in setting the limits and possibilities......"

Following the acute trauma care that medically stabilizes the person who has sustained a spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D), the individual is transferred to acute rehabilitation. A rehabilitation program may be in the same or a different facility or a free-standing facility.

The goal of rehabilitation is to help persons learn how to care for a body that now works differently, maintain a high level of health that avoids the secondary complications of SCI and reintegrate oneself into the community.

In acute (intense) rehabilitation, the SCI/D person (and his family/significant other) becomes an important member of a team of SCI professionals that include physical medicine, nursing, occupational and physical therapy, social work, psychology and recreation. A SCI team of experts has the skill to provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, lifetime approach that is so essential to the care of the person who is newly injured.

NSCIA encourages all persons to seek their acute rehabilitation in a facility that provides a dedicated SCI program that can address the unique, life-long needs of these persons. [Insurance, location and individual circumstances will affect a final placement decision.]Appropriate rehabilitation begins the journey to an improved quality of life for each person who has experienced this life-changing event.

There are two programs that designate/accredit a facility as a SCI program of rehabilitation. The National Institutes of Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), part of the U.S. Department of Education, designates the Model SCI Systems of Care.The Model Systems provide comprehensive care from the time of admission, following an acute injury, through rehabilitation to discharge and reintegration into the community.

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredits facilities that provide rehabilitation services and programs, both inpatient and outpatient, that are specific for SCI/D. Please access the lists of these specialized facilities as indicated below.

2.3. Choosing a High-Quality Rehabilitation Program

Choosing a High-Quality Rehabilitation Program
An NRH Field Guide for People with Disabilities

This guidebook was developed to help consumers choose a high-quality rehabilitation program. It covers the different types of rehabilitation programs available and offers assistance with understanding your insurance coverage. It also includes a glossary of terms as well as checklists and additional resources.

2.4. Finding the right rehab facility for you

For information to help you learn how to select the right rehabilitation facility visit:

Spinal cord 101-Finding a rehab

Spinal cord injury-You DO have choices from the Research and Training Center on Independent Living, University of Kansas

** NSCIA SCI rehab Hospital Members

** State resource pages where Model and CARF accredited NSCIA Member hospitals are listed

3.1. What does CARF mean?

Learn more about spinal cord injury care in a CARF-accredited facility CARF Accreditation  

3.2. Finding a SCI CARF-accredited facility

You can search for an alphabetical listing of accredited CARF facilities. 

To search for a spinal cord system of care, select "Spinal Cord System of Care" in the "Program Focus" field. Do not select a program in the "Program" field that starts with the words Spinal Cord.

4.1. What are SCI Model Care Systems?

Learn about the SCI Model Care Systems

4.2. SCI Model Systems list

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Model Systems (2011 - 2016)  This is a descriptive listing of the current 14 Model Systems of Spinal Cord Care.

5.1. Resources and Other Information

For additional information, visit:

Rehabilitation articles, facility lists and guidance

Courage Center ( Minnesota) Inpatient Transitional Rehabilitation Program, CARF-accredited

Winning Wheels Rehabilitation Center (Prophetstown, IL) Continuum of Care rehabilitation program, CARF-accredited

Case Management Resource Guide on line with 150,000 diverse listings