Our comprehensive, coordinated rehabilitation team works together to provide the advanced care, expertise and resources necessary to treat persons with MBI. We believe that everyone deserves compassionate, personalized attention throughout the continuum of care, from evaluation and diagnosis to rehabilitation and recovery. Specialist teams are personalized for each patient and may include any or all of the following:
Physiatrist
A medical doctor who is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This physician oversees rehabilitation and manages physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms that influence recovery and well-being. The physiatrist often prescribes evaluations, therapies and medications to thoroughly treat MBI.
Neurologist
A physician who specializes in neurology and is trained to diagnose and treat neurologic disorders such as brain injury and stroke.
Neuropsychologist
A specially trained psychologist who evaluates brain functioning after an injury, particularly a person’s thinking and perceptual skills. Neuropsychologists can pinpoint areas of decline and make treatment recommendations to improve functional abilities. They also provide a psychological perspective in the treatment process that aids in understanding the impact of psychological factors on recovery.
Case Manager
The case manager works with the interdisciplinary team to assess, plan and coordinate care and provides patients with education and resources to ensure positive outcomes. At the first contact with patients, the case manager gathers information about the particulars of the brain injury and the ways in which it affects daily activities. This information is shared with the physician in charge of the patient's care and with other clinicians to whom the patient is referred. The case manager ensures good communication among care team members throughout the entire treatment period and serves as the primary contact for the patient. Patient recovery is greatly enhanced by timely communication and case management oversight.
Speech Language Pathology (SLP)
The speech language pathologist assesses and treats deficits in cognitive-communicative impairments, including attention/concentration, memory, abstract reasoning and problem-solving. The primary goal in speech language pathology care is to improve information processing, thought organization, initiation and decision-making skills. A major focus in this treatment is teaching patients compensatory strategies that promote a successful return to school or work. Assistive technologies may also be employed to maximize daily functioning.
Occupational Therapy (OT)
An occupational therapist works to improve an individual’s ability to participate in activities of everyday life. After an MBI, fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination and other ocular-motor functioning may be diminished. The occupational therapist will develop a treatment plan that improves brain function in these areas.
Physical Therapy (PT)
The role of the physical therapist is to evaluate physical abilities such as balance, endurance, strength, range of motion, and mobility. A frequent but overlooked problem after a concussion involves an individual’s vestibular system, which regulates the body’s ability to balance and know its position in space. Our physical therapists have received specialty training in vestibular rehabilitation and can develop a treatment plan to improve MBI-related dizziness and balance deficits.
Rehabilitation Psychology/Counseling
The psychologist helps people with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), relationship stressors and other reactions to life changes brought about by brain injury/stroke. Treatment includes education for the patient and family and counseling regarding adjustment to disability.
Driving Training and Evaluation
An occupational therapist provides clinical and on-the-road assessments of vision, reaction time, thinking skills, memory, and physical function to determine one’s ability to safely drive in the community following MBI. Behind-the-wheel training and recommendations for adaptive equipment are also available.
Sleep Disorder Center
The Sinai Sleep Center provides an overnight evaluation through which sleep disorders can be diagnosed, and recommendations for treatment can be offered by sleep medicine specialists. This evaluation requires a prescription from a referring physician.
Neuro-Ophthalmology
Neuro-ophthalmologists of Sinai’s Kreiger Eye Institute evaluate patients from a neurologic, ophthalmologic and medical viewpoint. They specialize in treating a wide variety of visual problems that result from MBI.
Pain Management
Physiatrists who specialize in pain disorders are available to manage MBI-related pain. They incorporate patient medical history in identifying the cause of the pain and develop a holistic treatment plan. A wide range of treatment options may be utilized that focus on providing primary pain relief and improved function and quality of life.