Patient Care

Madonna's Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Program holds a belief that regardless of the level of injury, a person with SCI can return to their life roles with the help of assistive technology, networking with other individuals with similar conditions, by participation in an intense rehabilitation program that focuses upon maximizing strengths, and by learning how to be a good advocate.

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital is accredited by CARF, the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission as a Spinal Cord System of Care, hospital level and comprehensive outpatient, for adults and pediatric family centered care. We offer comprehensive programming for children and adults with all levels of SCI on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital is one of only 4 hospitals in the United States to be CARF accredited as both a Spinal Cord System of Care and a Pediatric Specialty Program, which means we are held to higher standards of quality, outcomes and programming.

Unique Services:

Scope of Services: Madonna's Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program serves individuals with all levels of SCI who might have complete or incomplete neurological impairments. An interdisciplinary team of clinicians address a multitude of functional areas including activities of daily living (ADL), assistive technology, behavior management, cognition (thinking and reasoning skills), communication, community integration, driving, durable medical equipment, environmental modifications, leisure and recreation, mobility, braces, wheelchair seating systems and vocational rehabilitation.

Patient Family education is provided on a wide variety of topics including emergency preparedness, management of a personal assistant, aging with disability, prevention of potential risks and complications from SCI, life-care planning, self-advocacy, and community resources among other topics.

The program is comprehensive, providing medical interventions in the areas of autonomic dysreflexia, bladder and bowel function, circulation, swallowing and nutrition, infection, medication management, musculoskeletal and neurological effects, pain, respiration including ventilator and/or tracheostomy management, sexual function/fertility, skin integrity, and spasticity management. Patients with a need for chemical use/abuse/dependency treatment are referred for treatment outside Madonna.

Life long wellness training is also important for individuals completing their rehabilitation to stay in order to have a plan to stay active and exercise safely. Outings to learn how and what to do in a community based fitness environment, with trained staff and specially adapted equipment available promotes success as well as exploring new wellness opportunities that match your current level of fitness.

Clinical Expertise: Each patient's care is directed by a physician who specializes in physiatry and/or a physician with specialization in internal medicine. For individuals who are 18 years or younger, a pediatrician is involved in their care on a daily basis. All Madonna nurses are specially trained in providing care for patients with brain injury and several Madonna nurses have specialty training as a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse.

Treatment Equipment: Madonna is one of the only rehabilitation hospitals in the region to offer high tech treatment equipment such as the RT-300, body weight support treadmill, Lokomat, Bioness functional electric stimulation braces that help individuals with incomplete SCI regain motor strength and control.

Madonna has a multitude of assitive technology available that assists an individual with any level of injury the opportunity to be more independent with using the telephone, accessing the computer and environmental control units. Examples include: voice activated phones, voice activated computer software, eye gaze software, environmental control systems using sip/puff or other switches.

Wheelchair Seating & Positioning: Selecting a wheelchair and following up after using a wheelchair are important to the overall long-term success of an individual with spinal cord injury. Pressure ulcers are a common and very costly secondary complication in patients with SCI. One way to prevent this complication is to have an adequate seating system. Madonna has an electronic pressure mapping system that visually shows the clinicians where pressure points are, so that an appropriate seating system may be designed and provided.

Preparation for Home: Madonna SCI patients are provided with a 24 hour caregiver training program based upon principles of self-advocacy and self-direction. Patients, with or without their caregivers, are taught how to direct their care and what to do if emergencies arise. They are provided with opportunities to practice these skills, ending in a 2-3 night stay in Madonna's transitional apartment. This apartment is located on the unit, with easy access to medical staff if needed, with the expectation that a family member or other caregiver will assist with the personal care required during their stay. The patient will direct his/her care and independently follow his/her therapy schedule. In addition, a 2 week daily education class is provided for all patients and family/friends on a variety of SCI topics.

Community Re-Entry: Rehabilitation does not stop when the patient gains basic skills of self-care and mobility. Participation in a variety of adaptive sports and recreational outings can be integrated into therapy or just for fun. Patients may also work on specific goals related to return to driving, school re-entry, or visit with a vocational rehabilitation counselor about work re-entry.

Home Assessments: This service is offered on inpatient or outpatient basis. People with neurological condition's physical needs often change over time, making this is a key service throughout a person's life.


Structured Independence: Its important for individuals completing their rehabilitation to stay active and exercise safely. Learning how and what to do in a community based fitness environment, with trained staff and specially adapted equipment available promotes success.

Continuum of Care:

• Long Term Acute Care Hospital - for individuals who have complex medical needs

• Acute Rehabilitation - for those who are ready for intensive rehab and can tolerate at least three hours of therapy per day

• Rehabilitation Day Program - for those who can be at home or in a community setting in the evening but require an intense, coordinated program of multiple therapies with an emphasis on independent living and community re-entry during the day

• Outpatient Services - for those who need a single therapy or one of many specialized services

• SCI Annual Clinic - A specialized clinic to evaluate each individual's needs and recommend rehabilitation services as needed. The clinic visit includes contact with a physiatrist with special training in SCI as well as other rehabilitation professionals including nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, and rehabilitation psychology as individually appropriate. Individuals with SCI may be seen in the clinic a few weeks after discharge from their initial rehab program and then annually afterward.