Brain Injury Rehabilitation Clinics and
Out-Patient Neuro-Rehabilitation Programs

The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Clinics (BIRC) and Out-Patient Neuro-Rehabilitation Programs (NRP at UWMC; CORP at HMC) at the University of Washington Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center offer a wide range of services directed toward helping clients 18 years of age and older cope with the complex and long-term consequences of brain injury. Brain injury may be due to a variety of causes, including trauma, stroke, tumor, aneurysm, anoxic injury, demyelinating disease, or other brain insult.

The Brain Injury Clinic offers a range of services, including initial review, screening evaluations, and consultations with our medical director, rehabilitation psychologists, and social worker. We will then schedule a follow-up team and family conference to discuss all findings and recommendations for treatment. This might include referral to our comprehensive out-patient Neuro-Rehabilitation Program, it may include consultation advice to your current treating professionals, or may involve routine follow-up with our medical director.

For more information on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), please link to the TBI Model Systems section of our website. For more information on Multiple Sclerosis, link to the [MS web site.]

Clinic and Neuro-Rehabilitation Staff

The clinic is staffed by an interdisciplinary team of professionals experienced in treating individuals with brain injury. Specialists are drawn from the fields of rehabilitation medicine (physiatry), rehabilitation nursing, rehabilitation psychology, neuropsychology, and social work.

The Neuro-Rehabilitation team, in addition to the professionals above, includes specialists in speech and language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and rehabilitation counseling for return-to-work issues.

Evaluation Services

Initial evaluation in the Brain Injury Clinic typically includes:

• A screening evaluation by a physiatrist, psychologist, and social worker.
• Recommendations for treatment and/or further assessment by a multidisciplinary team as indicated.

Comprehensive evaluation and treatment through the Neuro-Rehabilitation Program (NRP) and Brain Injury Clinic (BIRC) typically includes some or all of the following:

• Neuropsychological assessment in which cognitive and behavioral assets and deficits are evaluated.
• Clinical psychology consultation for psychotherapeutic needs.
• Comprehensive driver's evaluation for safety and to provide directions for training.
• Complete range of vocational analysis for work re-entry goals.
• Speech and language evaluation to assist with communication and higher level cognitive skills.
• Physical therapy evaluation to assist with balance, strength, gait, and pain problems.
• Occupational therapy evaluation to assist with basic and higher level activities of daily living.
• Consideration for participation in cognitive group and group psychotherapy.
• Consideration for participation in a job station.
• Consultation with family members to provide support and education.
• Periodic team and family conferences to review progress.

As part of comprehensive medical management through the BIRC, the following are available:

• Spasticity and limb mobility management
• Interdisciplinary evaluation
• A variety of nerve blocks
• Pharmacological management
• Splinting
• Bracing
• Electrical stimulation
• Modified Constraint Therapy
• Lite Gait ambulation training
• Seating clinic

In addition, as part of the comprehensive NRP, the following services are also provided:

• Pain management for brain injured patients.
• Monitored medication trials (e.g.: for depression, sleep disturbance.)
• Vision and balance screening.
• Balance treatment.
• Wellness program, including exercise, nutrition, sleep hygiene.

Associated Evaluation Services

• Assistive technology services including augmentative and non-vocal communication assistance, wheelchair evaluation, ambulation aids, and prosthetics/orthotics.
• Specialized balance and gait analysis, done through the Balance Testing Laboratory.
• Electromyography and somatosensory evoked potentials.
• Access to the full resources of Harborview Medical Center and the University of Washington Medical Center as needed, such as Neurology, Otolaryngology, Audiology, Psychiatry, the Pain Center, Orthopedics, and Ophthalmology.

Neuro-Rehabilitation Services

• Comprehensive and individually-tailored programs for return-to-work, community, or school programs; vocational services for re-employment; training in community-related activities and safety.
• Rehabilitation of communication and speech deficits.
• Training in compensatory memory and cognitive strategies.
• Help learning management of anger, depression, anxiety and other behavioral disturbances.
• Physical strengthening and endurance training.
• Balance and gait training.
• Training in activities of daily living.
• Drivers' training for individuals with disabilities.
• Psychotherapy for partners and families of patients with brain injury.
• Assistance with social service needs.

Costs and Insurance

Our patient care coordinators in the rehabilitation therapy and rehabilitation medicine clinics can assist with questions regarding funding. Typical funding resources include private insurance, Worker's Compensation carriers, both in and out of state, Medicare, Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and other third-party payers. Medicaid provides limited funding for a restricted range of services such as physician care, some physical therapy, and speech.

For more information or to make appointments, contact:

UWMC Brain Injury Rehabilitation Clinic
University of Washington Medical Center
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
Box 356157
Seattle WA 98195
206-598-5903 for new patients,
206-598-4295 for continuing patients.

OR

HMC Brain Injury Rehabilitation Clinic
Haborview Medical Center
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
Box 359740
Seattle WA 98104
206-731-5862