SCI Treatment Programs

A male patient is reclining on a padded therapy table, secured with straps. A female therapist in a

Empowering you to live life fully and independently

At Shepherd Center, we are committed to helping individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI) rediscover their potential and embrace life beyond injury. Combining cutting-edge treatments with compassionate care, we empower our patients to regain independence, improve quality of life, and seamlessly reintegrate into their communities.

Every year, hundreds of people turn to us for hope and healing. Our Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program offers a complete continuum of care — from acute treatment to outpatient services — tailored to all levels of spinal cord injury. As one of only 14 federally designated Model Systems for SCI care, Shepherd Center is a national leader in innovative and effective rehabilitation.

Expertise in complex spinal cord injury care

We excel in managing some of the most challenging spinal cord injury cases, cultivating a depth of expertise that sets us apart. Our programs meet the unique needs of adolescents (ages 12–21), adults, and seniors (50+), ensuring personalized care at every stage of recovery. Our specialized expertise includes:

  • Patients who use ventilators to breathe
  • Dual diagnosis (spinal cord and brain injury)
  • Multiple trauma cases
  • High-level spinal cord injuries (C1 to C4)
  • Paraplegia and tetraplegia

Quick facts about our SCI rehabilitation program

288

Each year, we provide inpatient rehabilitation for 288 individuals with SCIs.

76.7%

More than two-thirds of our patients have sustained traumatics SCIs.

81.6%

More than 80% of of our patients are liberated from ventilators.

Our treatment goals

  • Restore independence: We focus on rebuilding the skills you need for everyday living and functional mobility, helping you regain control over your life.
  • Enhance quality of life: We support your physical, emotional, and social well-being, ensuring a holistic approach to recovery that goes beyond just physical healing.
  • Community reintegration: Whether returning to work, school, or enjoying recreational activities, we equip you with the tools and confidence to reconnect with your community.
Spinal Cord Injury Outcomes
Patient Satisfaction

Our comprehensive spinal cord injury rehabilitation programs

A diverse group of seven people, including five in wheelchairs, gather in a bright room. They’re smiling, and one person receives a t-shirt. A large window and exercise equipment are visible in the background.

Your spinal cord injury rehabilitation team

With 11 dedicated spinal cord injury teams and specialized units for other neurological conditions, we deliver personalized care that sets the standard for rehabilitation. Our SCI rehabilitation unit takes a team-based, multidisciplinary approach designed to address your specific needs.

I drove past this place all the time and didn’t even know it existed. It’s truly the best place I could have gone, and I can’t imagine what recovery would have looked like if I had not come here.

Eli Hiskey, Georgia Patient, Spinal Cord Injury

Read Eli’s Story of Hope

Specialty services and outpatient clinics

We offer a wide range of specialty services and single-visit outpatient clinics designed to help you minimize complications, optimize recovery, and maintain long-term health through seamless transitions from inpatient care to lifelong support.

A man in athletic gear assists another man using a harness system for physical therapy or rehabilitation. They are in a spacious room with exercise equipment and a mirror on the wall.

Beyond Therapy®

Advanced rehabilitation options to push past recovery goals.
A person with a prosthetic leg drives a car. They are wearing glasses and a striped shirt, focused on the road ahead. The sun casts a warm glow inside the vehicle through the windshield.

Driving Program

Assessments and training to help you return to the road.
A doctor in a lab coat is talking with a smiling young male patient sitting on an examination table in a medical office. A woman sits nearby, also smiling. Medical equipment is visible in the room.

Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic

Focused care to manage medical conditions related to spinal cord injuries.
A woman assists a man in a wheelchair using a long stick for guidance in a store with mobility equipment. They appear engaged in learning or demonstration, with various assistive devices visible in the background.

Seating Clinic

Custom wheelchair fittings and adjustments for enhanced mobility, comfort, and posture.
A medical professional in a black uniform shows a spine model to a seated man with glasses and a beard. Another person is taking notes on a clipboard. The setting appears to be a consultation room.

Pain Institute

Comprehensive strategies to manage pain and improve quality of life.
Peer support staff, from left: Pete Anziano, Mariellen Jacobs, Kim Ross, Karen DeVault, Daquarius Greene and David Carter at the Shepherd Center

Peer Support

Connection with others who have firsthand experience navigating recovery.
A person in a blue outfit, with climbing gear, is smiling while being suspended in a climbing gym. The background shows a climbing wall with colorful holds and several people.

Recreation Therapy

Adaptive sports and activities to support an active lifestyle.
A healthcare worker assists a person in a wheelchair wearing a neck brace. They are in a room with a large whiteboard covered in writing. The healthcare worker is checking the person's hand.

Upper Extremity Clinic

Specialized therapies to improve upper body strength, function, and mobility.
A man in a wheelchair wearing a red jacket discusses neurourology with a healthcare professional in a white coat holding a paper. Meanwhile, a woman smiles from the examination table, adding warmth to the bustling medical office.

Urology Clinic

Expert management of the bladder.
A pulmonologist in blue scrubs uses a stethoscope to listen to the heartbeat of a patient in a wheelchair wearing a neck brace and connected to a ventilator.

Respiratory Services

Dedicated care for respiratory care and lung function.
Former patient, Amanda Francis, holding a stack of children's books in her arms while smiling while standing in a school library.

Vocational Rehabilitation

Support for returning to work.

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