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Continuum of Care Flow Chart

A continuum of care flow chart is included so that one can visualize the process of rehabilitation.  The process varies for each individual with a brain injury.  Referring to the flow chart may help determine which resources are needed or provided during rehabilitation process. 

Definitions

Emergency/Critical Care - early, sometimes intensive medical and pharmacological intervention for prevention of progressive neuronal damage.

Acute Care - skilled services delivery, hospital-based, that optimized person’s medical condition.  May or may not receive therapies.

Acute Rehabilitation - highly intensive skilled service delivery, hospital-based, to optimize the person’s medical condition and to improve functional status.  Focus on development of bowel and bladder control, communication, mobility, basic hygiene, orientation, and learning.  Person usually receives 3 hours or more of therapy per day.  Average length of stay is 3-5 weeks.

Sub-acute Rehabilitation - hospital-based or skilled nursing-based with focus on medical stability and/or complex nursing needs, in addition to receiving rehabilitation similar to acute rehab.  Person usually receives therapy 1 to 3 hours per day. Average length of stay is 2 to 3 months.

Neurobehavioral Unit - specialized rehabilitation unit for people who have difficulty controlling behaviors and impulses.  A highly structured environment is provided with a focus on behavior management; usually hospital-based.

Community - an area that a person lives; people living in a common location i.e. people receiving support services from multitude of community agencies.