Refer Your Patient to Shepherd Center

We share your passion for patient possibilities

At Shepherd Center, we understand your significant role in guiding patients toward the best possible care, and we share your commitment to achieving exceptional outcomes for individuals recovering from neurological injuries or illnesses.

Our comprehensive continuum of services spans from inpatient intensive care, medical care, and acute rehabilitation as part of a comprehensive continuum of care that includes day programs and outpatient services. We have also cultivated partnerships with many managed care and workers’ compensation carriers, streamlining the process for early transfers to Shepherd once patients are medically and surgically stable.

By partnering with us, you can trust that your patients will receive world-class care, cutting-edge research, and unwavering support as they navigate their path to recovery.

How to Initiate a Patient Referral to Shepherd Center 

Our team of admissions liaisons is dedicated to ensuring a seamless and expedited inpatient admissions process for patients across the United States. We can initiate the referral process within 24 hours of receiving the referral on business days, completely free of charge. 

Referrals can be initiated through one of the following methods: 

1. Contact us at 404-350-7367, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET. Our team is available to discuss your patient’s needs and determine their eligibility for admission. 
2. Utilize a web-based referral management system such as CarePort or Ensocare. 
3. Fax a referral and documentation directly to 404-603-4504. 

Still have questions? Submit an admissions inquiry directly through our website. 

Conditions Treated at Shepherd Center 

Shepherd Center provides specialized acute medical and rehabilitation care to adolescents and adults aged 12 and above, dealing with new complex neurological injuries or recent neurological illnesses. We offer comprehensive services for the following diagnoses: 

• Traumatic spinal cord injury that has resulted in paraplegia, tetraplegia, or high tetraplegia (including ventilator-dependent patients) 
• Non-traumatic spinal cord injury, such as spinal cord infarction, aneurysm 
• Brain injury, encompassing traumatic brain injury, encephalitis, anoxia, and tumors, as well as those who are semi-comatose or minimally conscious 
• Stroke (for individuals who are medically and functionally appropriate) 
• Multiple Trauma (with or without brain or spinal cord injury) 
• Traumatic amputations (with or without brain or spinal cord injury) 
• Dual diagnosis (spinal cord and acquired brain injury) 
• Neurological demyelinating illnesses, including multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
• Spinal tumors 

Services Not Provided at Shepherd Center

• Dialysis

Feel free to contact us at 404-350-7367, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET, to discuss specific information regarding these listed conditions or other unlisted injuries. 

Inpatient Admission Criteria 

Eligibility for our inpatient programming is based on meeting the following criteria: 

• Patient meets Shepherd Center's medical criteria for admission, including conditions we treat (see above list) and not requiring services we don’t provide (such as dialysis).
• Patient is medically and surgically stable. 
• Patient can demonstrate the ability to participate and tolerate three hours of therapy per day. 
• Patient has a support system to provide an appropriate discharge plan following the hospital stay.