Our Care and Services

Patients may need inpatient rehabilitation due to the complexity of their injury, including:

• Traumatic spinal cord injuries, such as those from car accidents or falls.
• Nontraumatic spinal cord injuries that can be caused by things such as infections or, compressive myelopathy, spinal stenosis, spine tumors or epidural hematomas.

Our treatment plans help you manage the physical, emotional and behavioral changes you may experience as a result of your injury.

Inpatient spinal cord rehabilitation is available at Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital and the Woodstock Inpatient Rehabilitation unit at Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital.

Inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation is also offered for children at Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital.

Criteria for Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Admission

Adult inpatient rehabilitation is for patients experiencing changes in physical function, mobility, speech, cognition, behavior, emotions and personal independence due to:

• Physical disabilities
• Illnesses
• Injuries

To be admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation program at Northwestern Medicine, you must:

• Participate in three hours of intensive rehabilitation at least five days a week.
• Require two or more types of therapy, such as physical, speech or occupational.
• Require 24-hour medical care with daily physician oversight.
• Have the capacity to make functional improvements based on the rehabilitation goals set with your personal therapy team.
• Get approval from a physiatrist that you meet the above criteria.

Your Inpatient Rehabilitation Team

Our rehabilitation teams have extensive experience in managing the rehabilitation and health needs of patients who have experienced a spinal cord injury, including patients who have multiple medical needs. Because we work closely with other Northwestern Medicine facilities and specialists, you have access to advanced treatment options.

Your team may include:

• A physiatrist who is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation
• A resident physician
• Advanced practice registered nurse
• Rehabilitation registered nurse
• Occupational therapist
• Speech-language pathologist
• Case manager
• Psychologist
• Pharmacist
• Chaplain
• Therapeutic recreation specialist
• Dietitian

Your Treatment Plan

After a complete assessment, we will work with you to set your goals. Together, we will design a comprehensive, customized treatment plan to help you reach them. Therapy sessions typically take place for at least three hours a day, at least five days per week. They are intended to maximize your recovery.

They may include:

• Daily physiatrist interaction and guidance.
• Regular consultation with a neuropsychologist to evaluate and update treatment to ensure you are making progress toward your goals.
• An individualized mobility treatment plan, determined by your physical therapist, focused on goals like walking and strengthening, balance and coordination.
• Using assistive therapeutic technology to support your treatment.
• Occupational therapy to help you with range of motion, coordination, cognition and your ability to perform everyday self-care activities.
• Speech therapy to treat communication and swallowing disorders, along with cognitive issues like memory loss and problem-solving.
• Pain management.
• Emotional support and counseling for you and your family.
• Vocational and academic services to help you return to school or the workforce.
• Education to give you resources after you leave the hospital.

Patient and Family Education

Education is a key part of your rehabilitation journey. Your nursing and therapy teams will:

• Teach you how to manage your current medical condition, along with any potential future health concerns related to your injury.
• Help you and your family overcome challenges, such as those related to self-care or everyday activities.
• Share tools and techniques to address the psychological and emotional difficulties that may occur as you adapt to life after a spinal cord injury diagnosis.