- Overview
- Services Available through BIS
- Neuropsychological Evaluation
- Additional Brain Injury Resources
- Professional Education & Development
- Contact Information
Acquired Brain Injury,” or ABI, refers to all non-congenital/non-developmental/non-degenerative injuries to the brain that result in cognitive or behavioral problems. The most common types of ABI addressed at WWRC are traumatic brain injury, stroke, anoxic injury, brain tumor/cancer, and a smaller number of clients with histories of infectious disease or other etiologies. WWRC provides comprehensive medical rehabilitation services for individuals with acquired brain injury who demonstrate rehabilitative and vocational potential. Individualized service plans are developed that reflect findings and recommendations of initial neuropsychological and physical medicine evaluations.
An individual's Brain Injury Team may include professionals from any or all of the following disciplines:
- Neuropsychology
- Physical Medicine
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology
- Physical Therapy
- Vocational Counseling
- Rehabilitation Counseling
- Psychological Services
- Case Management
- Specialists in Community Reintegration
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Services Available through BIS:
We provide medical rehabilitation services (e.g., neuropsychological and physical medicine evaluation, as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech/cognitive therapy, and psychological support) for clients with ABI across the time spectrum of recovery, to promote functional independence and enhanced opportunities for employment.
Medical division staff at WWRC may, at various times, work collaboratively to evaluate and treat a given client with ABI. This group of staff forms a client’s “brain injury team.” Specific services provided by the client’s medical rehabilitation team form that client’s “brain injury services program.” Each client’s rehabilitation “program” is individualized to the status and needs of the client at the specific point along the recovery continuum when the client is seen for services.
- ABI Evaluation Services (Two Tracks)
- Outpatient Evaluation Services – A one to two-day outpatient evaluation for clients with less medical involvement or personal/attendant care needs, consisting of a neuropsychological evaluation paired with physical medicine evaluation and case management coordination with referral source. The evaluation product is a report summarizing the client’s neurobehavioral functioning and recommendations for rehabilitation, whether at WWRC or in the client’s local community.
- Extended (Residential) Evaluation - A comprehensive team evaluation lasting several days or longer, including neuropsychological evaluation, for clients in residence on Rothrock Hall. This service is primarily for clients with greater personal care or attendant care needs, to assess the client’s functional status and therapy goals, and to develop and provide recommendations for rehabilitation.
- Medical Rehabilitation Programming for Clients with ABI
- Population Served – All clients with ABI for whom prior evaluation has yielded recommendations for on-campus rehabilitative services through the Medical Division at WWRC.
- Case Management – Specialized case management is provided for coordination of team processes (e.g., intake, plan development, progress review, and discharge meetings) and facilitation of adjustments in the rehabilitation plan that may be warranted, as directed by the physiatrist and in conjunction with the rehabilitation team.
- Treatment Program Process– Clients initially participate in orientation and intake activities coordinated by the case manager, as well as plan development meetings with involved therapy providers. Progress reviews are held at regular intervals with participation of the rehabilitation team. Discharge meetings are held at the conclusion of on-campus medical therapy programs, with involvement of the client’s DRS field sponsor to facilitate transition planning and continuation of progress upon return to the community and/or transition to vocational training services at WWRC.
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Neuropsychological Evaluation
The neuropsychological evaluation involves testing that is sensitive to problems in brain functioning. Unlike CT or MRI scans, which show what the structure of the brain looks like, neuropsychological testing examines how well the brain is working when it performs certain functions (for example, remembering information).
Neuropsychological evaluations are often very helpful in the process of developing effective rehabilitation programs for clients with histories of acquired brain injury. Results of the neuropsychological evaluation may be of help in the following ways:
- finding possible problems in brain functioning,
- forming a diagnosis,
- defining a person’s cognitive and behavioral strengths and weaknesses,
- guiding treatment and rehabilitation for personal, educational or vocational needs,
- making relevant recommendations to other health care provider(s), and
- documenting possible changes in cognitive or behavioral functioning over time.
The following are some client situations for which a neuropsychological evaluation should be strongly considered:
- Clients who have experienced a traumatic brain injury, stroke, brain tumor or other injury to the brain, for whom a neuropsychological evaluation has never previously been conducted.
- Clients with a documented history of acquired brain injury for whom a neuropsychological evaluation might have been conducted within the first year following their injury, but for whom no subsequent evaluation was performed. These clients would be candidates for a neuropsychological re-evaluation if at least one year has passed since the first evaluation occurred, and problems in thinking or behavior brought about by the injury have persisted.
- Clients with developmental disabilities tied to neurological dysfunction, such as cerebral palsy, who are presently into adulthood and are continuing to show cognitive or behavioral difficulties, and for whom any prior neuropsychological evaluations, if done, were completed prior to 17 years of age.
Clients with histories of acquired brain injury are eligible for neuropsychological evaluation services through the Brain Injury Services Department at the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center. Case consultation is readily available, and referrals can be made by calling us at 1-800-345-9972, ext. 7044.
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- Resources in Virginia
- National & International Resources
- [Life Care Planning Resources]
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Contact Information
BIS Manager
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