Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic at Shepherd Center

We are a specialized outpatient clinic at Shepherd Center equipped to manage the ongoing needs of those recovering from a complex injury or illness.

Whether patients have been recently discharged directly from an acute care setting or have completed a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program, they often need continued care to address their specific needs and achieve optimal functional outcomes. 

Our clinic offers a range of services to support patients and their families in their long-term recovery journey. Some individuals may require ongoing medical management to navigate their rehabilitation process effectively. Others may find value in periodic follow-up appointments, which allow us to identify and address secondary health conditions such as neuropathic pain or other factors that may impact their quality of life, including their ability to return to work. 

The Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic has the expertise and resources to provide comprehensive care tailored to each patient's unique circumstances. We aim to ensure that individuals receive the appropriate treatment and support to enhance their recovery and maximize their overall well-being. 

We cater to individuals at different stages of their neurological rehabilitation journey, encompassing a range of conditions such as spinal cord injuries (both traumatic and non-traumatic), traumatic brain injuries, anoxic brain injuries, cerebrovascular accidents, transverse myelitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and other complex medical conditions. This includes the following groups: 

• Individuals who have completed an inpatient rehabilitation program and wish to maintain their progress through continuous medical management and rehabilitative care.
• Individuals who were previously under the care of a Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic in a different location and are now seeking a provider closer to home for ongoing treatment.
• Adolescents who have transitioned from pediatric care, including patients from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and other pediatric-focused facilities, and are now searching for a new Rehabilitation Medicine clinic to meet their evolving needs.
• Individuals who have been coping with complex injuries or illnesses for a considerable period but have not received treatment through an inpatient rehabilitation program or a Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic. They are now actively seeking specialized care tailored to their specific condition. 

We are a one-stop shop for the outpatient management of medical conditions following a complex injury or illness.

As a patient, you have a specialized, interdisciplinary care team of physiatrists who collaborate to design a tailored, evidence-based treatment plan based on your symptoms and goals.

With specialists and care services housed in a single clinic, we can focus on what’s best for you while making it easy to communicate care quickly, make referrals, and adjust treatments as needed.

This comprehensive and holistic approach helps you continue to manage your medical care while improving outcomes and decreasing secondary health complications throughout your lifetime. 

When you’re a patient at Shepherd Center, you have an entire team of rehabilitation medicine specialists behind you. This team includes board-certified physiatrists, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, case managers, and other professionals. 

Meet Your Care Team of Specialists 

• Spinal cord injury
  • Paraplegia (complete or incomplete)
  • Tetraplegia (complete or incomplete)
• Non-traumatic spinal cord injury
  • Spinal cord tumors/cysts
  • Spinal cord infarction
  • Aneurysm
• Traumatic brain injury
• Anoxic brain injury
• Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
• Transverse myelitis
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Dual diagnosis (spinal cord injury with concurrent brain injury)

Learn More About Our Comprehensive Approach to Rehabilitation Medicine

Ongoing and regular follow-up visits with your physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor are critical in managing and preventing secondary health conditions that directly result from a disability or injury. These secondary complications can include pressure sores, respiratory complications, urinary tract infections, spasticity, and other musculoskeletal problems.

Your multi-specialty care plan will include education, proactive interventions, and ongoing monitoring to help maintain your overall health. Services and treatments that may be recommended to you by your multi-specialty care team include:

• Medication Management 
• Spasticity Management 
• Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy 
• Nutritional Management 
• Respiratory Management 
• Psychological Services 
• Assistive Technology 
• Community Integration 

Learn More About Our Management of Medical Care for Complex Injury and Illness 

A combination of treatments for spasticity provides the most benefit to patients for relief from symptoms and increased independence. Your physical medicine and rehabilitation physician will provide a comprehensive evaluation and a customized treatment plan that helps you overcome muscle spasticity symptoms and enjoy a life with less pain. Specific interventions and therapies may include: 

• Physical and Occupational Therapy 
• Bracing 
• Injections 
• Pump Implants

Learn More About Treatments for Spasticity

Complex conditions, such as brain, spinal cord, or neurological injury, require a complex treatment plan, often encompassing multiple care specialists. To help navigate these healthcare systems, we are staffed with experienced medical professionals, known as case managers, who serve as critical members of your expert care team.

These professionals work closely with patients, families, and other members of the rehabilitation medicine team to help coordinate high-quality care while assisting with administrative and logistical tasks. 

Learn More About Case Management 

Yes. As a patient in the clinic, you also have exclusive access to the many specialized clinics and services offered throughout Shepherd Center. This access provides care across a spectrum of specialties under one roof, with the same personable and family-like atmosphere that makes us Shepherd Center.

Yes, we would love to see you, your friends and family. Learn more about how to request an appointment.

A medical referral from a healthcare provider is encouraged but not required for new patient evaluations. Visit our Appointments and Referrals page to learn how to request an appointment.

The Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic is currently accepting new patients. A medical referral from a healthcare provider is encouraged but not required for new patient evaluations. There are three ways you can make a new patient appointment: 

1. Call our access case manager at 404-350-7502 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
2. Use our Appointment Request Form to submit a request online.
3. Have your healthcare provider fax a referral to 404-603-4509. 

Your first appointment will include a thorough assessment and evaluation of your condition and any complications you may be experiencing. This evaluation may include a comprehensive medical history, physical examination, imaging studies, and functional assessments to determine your condition’s extent and identify improvement areas. 

Once the assessment is complete, the physical medicine and rehabilitation team works with you to set realistic goals tailored to your condition, lifestyle, and preferences. These goals include improving mobility, reducing pain, enhancing strength and endurance, and achieving functional independence in daily activities. 

We want to make the most of your visit here just as much as you do. Here are some tips on what to do before your first evaluation. 

• List questions and topics you'd like to discuss with your care team.
• List of injuries you’ve had.
• Document the symptoms you are experiencing and for how long.
• Bring a partner, family member, or friend who can act as a second set of ears, take notes and prompt you if you forget anything.
• Ask for clarity on anything you don't understand. Medical terms can be daunting, and we want you to feel confident while you're here and after you leave.

For your first evaluation appointment, please also bring with you the following: 

• Driver’s license 
• Medical insurance card 

Absolutely. It is very helpful if a caregiver or health advocate accompanies you to your appointment to help take notes, ask questions, and provide emotional support.

It is very important that you attend all scheduled appointments. Availability in the clinic is limited and a missed appointment can impact timely medical refills.

While we understand that emergencies and other unexpected situations do arise, the Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic requests you provide us with a 24-hour notice in the event you are unable to make an appointment and need to reschedule. 

Please arrive 30 minutes ahead of your appointment time.

If you arrive less than 15 minutes before your appointment time, we may need to reschedule your appointment. Your time with the provider is very important and arriving 15 minutes before your appointment time ensures that our nursing staff can prepare you for your visit and the providers are able to meet all your needs.

The Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic accepts most major health plans, including traditional insurance, managed care plans, Medicare, and Georgia Medicaid. We encourage you to confirm that your health plan covers specialist services before making an appointment. 
 
Learn About Insurance Plans We Accept 

Please call our Financial Services Department at 404-350-7320 Monday through Friday to ask questions about your statement.

The Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic is conveniently located on the main campus of Shepherd Center in Buckhead Atlanta, next to Piedmont Hospital. We are easily accessible from Interstates 75/85 and just 16 miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

View More Info About Directions and Parking

If you are arriving for a new evaluation or any of our medical services, you will check in at the Rehabilition Medicine Clinic on the first floor of the main Shepherd Center building. Upon entering Shepherd Center via the visitors’ parking bridge, continue down the hall, and the Clinic is adjacent to the Security Desk.

Download Our Campus Map 

Yes. Free and convenient covered parking is available for all patients in the Shepherd parking deck behind Shepherd Center.

Yes. ADA parking is available on all garage levels, with van-accessible spaces on the ground level. Direct access to the hospital is accessible by an elevator on each level of the parking deck.

Patients can also be picked up or dropped off adjacent to the Marcus-Woodruff Building Entrance. Transport chairs may be borrowed from our Security Desk if needed by visitors. 

Several nearby hotels offer discount room rates for patients and/or family members. Rates may be subject to room availability. Each hotel offers various services, including wheelchair-accessible guest rooms for persons with disabilities. Be sure to ask for the Shepherd Center Rate when contacting these hotels.

View Local Accommodations