Outpatient Bridge Program
The Bridge Program offers day treatment for individuals in the process of
recovery following acquired brain injury. Treatment provides a structured setting for renegotiating independence and community living skills following a life-changing neurological incident. It is designed to "bridge" the gap between hospitalization and the multiple services and agencies available within the community. The program combines group and individual therapies under the guidance of a professional staff, with group therapy the primary way clients work on their life-management skills. The Bridge Program offers a fully individualized approach to treatment, built around the client's unique needs and rate of improvement.
Admission Criteria
- diagnosis of traumatic brain injury, stroke, brain tumor, anoxia or other neurological dysfunction
- need for more intensive services than available in a typical outpatient treatment setting
- physician order
- age 15 years or older
- identifiable functional rehabilitation goals
- medical stability
- not limited by physically aggressive behavior, incontinence or lack of progress
- basic communication skills to enable interaction and acceptance of feedback in a group environment
Program Goals
Through personalized, one-on-one interaction with clients, our interdisciplinary team of professionals works toward gradually decreasing interventions and increasing client independence. A major focus of the Bridge Program is to build competence in skills of practical living and help clients feel greater control over their lives. Special features include emphasis on teaching the client to:
- demonstrate skills necessary to function as independently as possible in home, work or school settings
- communicate effectively by expressing needs, wants, ideas and personal information and by demonstrating the ability to reliably answer questions, follow instructions and interact with others
- demonstrate sufficient motor, visual, judgment and endurance skills in the home and community to safely negotiate various terrains and obstacles, including using public transportation
- cope adequately with injury-related deficits for all aspects of general life functioning
- safely and effectively perform personal and home management tasks using compensatory strategies to complete homemaking, home maintenance, self-care, child care, financial management and leisure tasks
- determine a realistic plan for returning to educational/vocational or avocational settings within the community
Because neurological dysfunction not only affects the survivor, but also has a significant impact on the family system, family members and significant others are encouraged to participate actively in the rehabilitation process. They not only observe, but also participate in selected therapy sessions, family conferences, family support groups and other educational activities.
Interdisiplinary Professional Team
The Inova Rehabilitation Center's interdisciplinary team includes the following professionals:
- physiatrists (rehab physicians)
- case managers
- rehabilitation nurses
- physical therapists
- occupational therapists
- speech/language pathologists
- therapeutic recreation specialists
- neuropsychologists
- social workers
- respiratory therapists
- dietitians
- chaplain
These professionals are committed to helping patients achieve their highest level of independent functioning and preventing long-term complications.
