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.