Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program in Minnesota

Treatment Team

Occupational therapy treatment session

Through the combined efforts and expertise of a team of specialists, the Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota helps hundreds of patients to rehabilitate each year.

The spinal cord injury treatment team is led by board-certified doctors specializing in spinal cord injuries and disorders. The team works with patients and family members to help them adjust to life after the injury. Patients learn the skills needed to care for themselves and to become as self-sufficient and independent as possible.

Treatment team members may include the following specialists:

Patient and family members
The patient is the most important member of the rehabilitation team. Active participation by the patient and family in goal planning and therapy is key to effective rehabilitation. With the patient's permission, the rehabilitation team shares patient progress assessments with family members so they understand overall progress, expectations for further rehabilitation and discharge goals.

Physiatrists
Physiatrists are doctors who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation and manage all short-term and long-term issues associated with a spinal cord injury. They coordinate rehabilitation therapies, services and the care patients require from other Mayo doctors. All Mayo Clinic physiatrists are certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and have subspecialty certification in spinal cord rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation care coordinator
Rehabilitation care coordinators are certified rehabilitation registered nurses who coordinate the patient's care from admission to the rehabilitation unit through discharge to the next level of care.

Rehabilitation psychologists
Rehabilitation psychologists have a Ph.D. and are certified by the American Board of Rehabilitation Psychology. They work with the patient, family and other members of the treatment team to help patients adjust to their disability and plan for the future. Topics often covered with patients include stress management, coping with loss, sexuality and vocational planning.

Rehabilitation nurses
The rehabilitation nursing staff includes registered nurses (RNs) with specialized education in spinal cord rehabilitation, licensed practical nurses and patient care assistants. Rehabilitation RNs assess each patient's ongoing psychosocial status, physical adjustment and progress with rehabilitation.

Nursing staff assist patients with all aspects of care to prevent spinal cord injury complications and to enhance independence with personal care. RNs provide patient-family education on living with an injury and assist patients with discharge planning by coordinating transitions to the next level of care.

Physical therapists
A physical therapist helps the patient regain muscle function and adapt to weakness, recover movement, increase mobility and learn how to use adaptive equipment. Physical therapists have specialized expertise in wheelchairs and seating, locomotor training and functional electrical stimulation.

Occupational therapists
Occupational therapists help patients return to engaging in life's everyday activities. They address swallowing, upper extremity functioning, cognition, safety and visual perception. Occupational therapists also have special expertise in wheelchairs and seating, upper extremity neuromuscular stimulation/recovery, rehabilitation after upper extremity functional restoration surgery and driving after spinal cord injury. Assistive technology options and the use of computerized, electronic devices also may be reviewed and tested during occupational therapy.

Respiratory therapists
Respiratory therapists evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing disorders. Patients with a spinal cord injury can have difficulty breathing and coughing effectively, and may require a ventilator after the injury. Respiratory therapists teach the patient, family, friends and other caregivers how to use ventilators.

Recreational therapists
A recreational therapist helps patients readjust to the hobbies and activities they participated in before their injuries, develop new skills and interests, and get involved in the community through reintegration trips. Recreational therapists provide opportunities to apply learned skills from other therapies to leisure activities.

Speech-language pathologists
The speech-language pathologists help patients with the speech and language skills necessary for communication and develop alternative methods of communication, when needed.

Social workers
Medical social workers counsel patients and family members, and provide emotional support and information about economic resources and community agencies. They help in discharge planning when the patient is transferring to a care agency and also follow up after discharge.

Chaplains
Chaplains are on call 24 hours a day to coordinate and provide spiritual or religious support for patients and their families throughout the recovery process.

Dietitians
A registered dietitian regularly visits patients to help them make healthy food choices and manage special dietary needs.