Your Care Team

Your care team is led by your physician, who plays a key role in managing your overall care. As specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), also know as physiatrists, they will work closely with you and your family to identify issues, prescribe treatments, and discuss your injury or condition. Your physician will review your prognosis, help set meaningful rehabilitation goals, plan your discharge, and approve any necessary post-discharge equipment. You may also work with consulting doctors and advanced practice providers for specialized aspects of your care.

Case managers are here to ensure your stay at Shepherd Center meets all your needs. They keep your insurance company informed, help plan your post-discharge living arrangements, and address personal or family concerns. Additionally, they schedule training and therapy for your family, assist with problem-solving, and serve as your main source of information.

Registered nurses (RNs) will be with you everyday, guiding your medical and rehabilitation care. They assist with daily activities, skin care, bowel and bladder management, pain relief, and health education. Your RN will also provide resources and discuss your condition with you and your family. Patient care technicians (PCTs) support you with bathing, meal delivery, treatments, and other personal care needs.

Physical therapists (PT) assess your muscle strength, sensation, and balance, focusing on your trunk and legs. They’ll create a personalized exercise and therapy program designed to help you regain functional independence. Whether you are using a wheelchair or walking, your PT will work with you to improve your mobility and teach you essential skills, such as getting in and out of bed, navigating transportation, and moving safely around a bathroom or kitchen.

In collaboration with you and your family or caregiver, your PT will also assess your home environment to identify any necessary modifications for accessibility. They will assist you in making decisions about equipment you may need, such as a wheelchair, specialized bed, or walking aid.

Under the direction and supervision of PTs, you may also work with Physical Therapy Assistants (PTAs) and PT aides. They help implement your physical therapy program, focusing on transfers, movement, strength, and mobility goals.

Occupational therapists (OTs) evaluate your strength and sensation, primarily in your arms, hands, and trunk. They work with you to regain daily living skills, such as eating, grooming, dressing, and managing bowel or bladder care. OTs also address visual and cognitive skills, assist with equipment needs, computer access, driving plans, and home safety, and help alleviate any pain you may be experiencing.

Under the direction and supervision of OTs, you may also work with Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants (COTAs) and OT aides. They support OTs and work with you on memory, daily living skills, strength, movement, and mobility goals.

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are here to support you with challenges related to memory, concentration, and language. They will help you improve essential daily skills, such as organization and planning activities. If you have an artificial airway, SLPs will guide you in learning to speak independently or with the aid of a special device, ensuring you feel confident and empowered.

SLPs also perform tests to identify the causes of hearing, chewing, and swallowing difficulties, and they design personalized treatment programs to address these issues. Additionally, they work closely with clinical dietitians to make sure you have the right food choices if you have swallowing restrictions, providing a comprehensive and caring approach to your overall well-being.

Exercise physiologists (EPs) design personalized exercise programs tailored to your individual goals and functional abilities. They focus on helping you rebuild strength and mobility while equipping you with the knowledge and tools needed to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. EPs collaborate closely with physical therapists to explore and harness the potential of your nervous system for adaptation and healing, often utilizing advanced equipment to enhance your recovery process.

Respiratory therapists will help you regain strength and regulate your breathing if your injury or illness impacts your ability to clear secretions or breathe independently. If you use a ventilator, they will work with you to build strength with the goal of reducing or eliminating your dependence on it.

Should you still require a ventilator or have an open airway at the time of your discharge, our respiratory therapists will ensure you and your family are fully trained in caring for both you and your equipment at home.

Psychologists and counselors provide essential support to help you, and your loved ones, navigate the emotional and psychological challenges that come with significant life changes due to injury or illness. They offer individual, group, and family counseling, as well as specialized services like sexuality and marriage counseling and pain management. They also help you identify the resources you will need after discharge and connect you and your family with support groups.

Neuropsychologists are specially trained psychologists who work with individuals experiencing brain dysfunction. They administer specialized tests to assess brain function in areas such as memory, concentration, problem-solving, language, and visual/constructional skills.

Beyond assessments, they assist you in coping with behavioral and emotional changes resulting from brain injury. Neuropsychologists educate patients and their families about the effects of different kinds of brain dysfunction, helping everyone involved understand and manage these changes effectively.

Recreation therapists help you adapt leisure activities to your new lifestyle. They assess your interests, modify activities for enjoyment and accessibility, and assist with overcoming community barriers. They may take you offsite to practice skills in real-world settings and work with professionals in areas like gardening, sports, or art to achieve your leisure goals.

Chaplains are here to offer spiritual to support you find inner strength and hope through your own beliefs. They provide compassionate guidance through prayer, meditation, religious rituals, and meaningful conversation to help you navigate your recovery.

Pharmacists play a key role in optimizing medication therapy by collaborating closely with the care team to assess how medications influence therapy and overall rehabilitation goals. They provide expertise on complex medication regimens, monitor your response to treatments, and adjust prescriptions as needed based on effectiveness and side effects. Additionally, pharmacists educate patients and their families about prescribed medications, explaining their purpose, potential side effects, and how to administer them properly.

Dietitians support your nutritional needs during recovery by evaluating your diet, providing tailored recommendations, and monitoring your progress. They help manage the impact of injury or surgery on your nutrition, guiding you on maintaining a healthy weight, the role of fiber, and preventing and managing skin wounds and diabetes. Their goal is to ensure you understand and effectively manage your nutritional needs throughout your rehabilitation.

Assistive technology professionals (ATPs) offer tailored technology solutions to enhance your daily life, work, and recreational activities. They assess your unique needs and abilities to recommend effective assistive devices and technology, including those for adaptive gaming, computer and tablet access, phone usage, and daily living aids. ATPs work closely with therapists to seamlessly integrate these technologies into your therapy plan, improving intervention outcomes and helping you achieve your therapeutic goals.

A driver rehabilitation specialist assists you in regaining the ability to drive safely and independently. They perform thorough on- and off-road evaluations to assess your physical and cognitive abilities, as well as your driving skills. Based on these assessments, they recommend vehicle modifications, such as hand controls or adapted steering wheels, tailored to your specific needs. These specialists collaborate closely with your therapists and healthcare team to integrate the driving rehabilitation plan with your overall therapeutic goals.

Seating and mobility specialists are dedicated to enhancing your comfort, function, and independence by optimizing your seating and mobility solutions. They assess your physical needs, mobility challenges, and environmental factors to recommend and customize seating systems and mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, cushions, and positioning supports. These specialists work closely with your therapists and healthcare team to ensure that seating and mobility solutions are integrated with your overall therapeutic goals.

Vocational specialists provide essential support and resources to help you return to work after an injury or illness. They work closely with you to explore your vocational interests, assess your strengths and areas for improvement, review your employment history, and set career goals. Their services include developing return-to-work plans, preparing necessary documentation, conducting vocational assessments, evaluating job sites, enhancing job readiness skills, and providing support during the transition from school to career. With their support, you’ll feel more confident and prepared as you continue your professional journey.

Family & Peer Support liaisons are individuals who have experienced similar injuries or conditions and are now successfully managing their lives or caring for someone who is. They serve as role models, demonstrating that greater independence is achievable. They provide practical guidance on functional skills and activities that might seem out of reach, share effective coping strategies, and offer support to help you and your family feel connected and understood.

These liaisons offer a range of services, including self-care education classes, individual and group meetings, and participation in therapy sessions and group outings. They can provide valuable insights into activities of daily living, self-advocacy, accessibility, employment, leisure pursuits, managing relationships, intimacy, parenting, and more.

Facility dogs play a unique and enriching role in therapy, contributing to physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, recreational therapy, and psychological support. Beyond providing comfort and emotional support, these dogs serve as motivating companions during therapy sessions. They actively participate in various therapeutic activities, assisting with balance and coordination exercises, practicing daily living skills such as feeding or leash training, and enhancing hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and fine motor skills. Facility dogs also help build confidence, encourage verbal communication, and make therapy sessions more engaging and enjoyable.