Immediately After Injury
THINGS TO KNOW IMMEDIATELY AFTER INJURY & DURING ACUTE CARE MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
Decisions Need to be Made Fast
Sometimes, you have to make important decisions super fast. When you feel like you don’t know enough or not in charge, you may be reliant on medical and surgical professionals with their knowledge. One family member shared:
"No, No, I don't feel like I had enough time to think about it. It's either I had to do it or not. And I couldn't even think of like, either asking anybody else 'cause I didn't know who else to ask or I didn't have no one else to like, bounce ideas off of, or what should I do, or anything like that. I had to make a decision right then and there."
Where Do I Start?
A spinal cord injury (SCI) can be tricky. When it happens, people and their families are suddenly in a whole new world of medical and rehabilitation. The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation has made a helpful guide for families who are new to SCI called “Spinal Cord Injury: Top 10 Questions for the Newly Injured”.
Here are questions to consider immediately after injury:
The following are questions important for the next steps, and often must be considered quickly after injury:
Helpful Terminology
Physiatrist
A physiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). They focus on diagnosing and treating conditions that affect physical function.
Model SCI Center
A Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Model System Center is a specialized rehabilitation center focused on providing comprehensive care for individuals with spinal cord injuries. These centers offer a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing emergency care, rehabilitation, and community reintegration services. They also conduct research to improve long-term outcomes for individuals with SCI.
Skilled Nursing Facility
A skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a temporary stay for people needing rehab that isn't as intensive as acute inpatient care. Those who can't handle three hours of therapy daily may go to a SNF instead. Some also go after completing inpatient rehab. Unlike nursing homes, which offer long-term care, SNFs are for short-term recovery.
Long-Term Acute Care Hospital
A long-term acute care (LTAC) facility is a specialty hospital for patients with serious medical conditions needing extended, intensive treatment—typically 20 to 30 days. LTACs offer more specialized care than SNFs, nursing homes, or rehab facilities. Individuals with spinal cord injuries may go to an LTAC for issues like ventilator weaning or pressure injury healing before starting rehab.
Trauma Center Levels
Trauma centers are categorized into five levels, I through V, based on the resources and care they can provide to patients with traumatic injuries. These levels represent a continuum of care, with Level I offering the most comprehensive services and Level V providing initial evaluation and stabilization before transfer to a higher level of care.
Durable Power of Attorney
After a spinal cord injury (SCI), you may need to give “power of attorney” to someone else, usually a family member or close friends. The procedures are different by each state, so it is important to talk to your attorney. Here are some helpful resources.