Medstar Good Samaritan Hospital Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program

Our comprehensive and integrated inpatient, day treatment, and outpatient care programs offer top-quality services from the onset of spinal cord injury or disease through a successful transition to home, community, and employment. We focus on the whole person, helping patients meet the challenges they face physically, medically, and socially, allowing them to reach the highest level of health and independence possible.

At MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital (MedStar NRH), our Spinal Cord Injury/Disease Rehabilitation and Recovery (SCI/D) program is the only Spinal Cord Injury program in the region fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This designation means the program has met rigorous guidelines for service and quality. In addition, MedStar NRH is a designated center of excellence in SCI/D care, one of 18 nationally recognized SCI Model Systems. This recognition highlights our position as a national leader in both specialty care and in medical research.

Our innovative research promotes recovery through neuromodulation to minimize the effects of secondary conditions that may occur after spinal injury and disease, such as bladder function, urinary symptoms and urinary infections. Because we integrate the latest research into our clinical care, patients have multiple opportunities to participate in advanced research trials which can enhance their physical and emotional recovery after spinal cord injury or disease.

Inpatient rehabilitation
At MedStar Health, we take an interdisciplinary approach to caring for patients with spinal cord injury or disease. Our clinical team involves a highly-skilled group of professionals who work together in close collaboration under the direction of a rehabilitation physician (physiatrist). With the patient as an integral member of their rehabilitation team, we design unique and personalized rehabilitation programs for each patient to help them return to the fulfilling life that they want to lead.

Our rehabilitation program is designed to:

• Involve the patient and their family in the development of rehabilitation goals and discharge planning
• Promote neurorecovery through advanced rehabilitation technology and modalities
• Maximize the patient’s overall strength, endurance, flexibility, and range of motion
• Educate the patient and their family in proper skin care techniques, as well as build the patient’s tolerance for sitting and lying
• Identify and customize optimal rehabilitative medical equipment that can help patients regain their highest level of function, including wheelchairs, seating and positioning devices, bathroom equipment, and assistive technology
• Help patients and their loved ones understand their injury and adjust to new skills and strategies that will help them lead fulfilling lives
• Ensure a smooth transition from inpatient therapy to outpatient services and the community
• The team works hand-in-hand with patients and families to maximize quality of life, prevent secondary conditions, and enhance their ability to participate in meaningful activities.