At Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals, we know that no two brain injuries are alike. For roughly 50 years, Madonna’s interdisciplinary team has created individualized treatment plans, as unique as each patient we serve, to maximize outcomes.
Along with customized treatment plans from our certified brain injury specialists, Madonna’s Brain Injury Program will offer specially-designed patient areas when the new patient wing opens this summer.
“Patient safety, as well as functionality, was the primary objective when we designed the new patient care wing for Madonna’s Brain Injury Program,” Brooke Murtaugh, OTD, OTR/L, CBIST, BT-C, Madonna’s Brain Injury Program manager, said. “The space was also designed to promote the greatest level of independence as patients recover and are ready for more autonomy of self.”
Murtaugh noted that patients recovering from a brain injury have unique needs, and the secure unit has adaptations tailored to the behavioral changes that can occur with these injuries. Each room has 24/7 video monitoring available as needed. Noise and sensory input can also be distracting to a brain injury patient. As a result, Madonna designed the walls with noise-dampening drywall, so these spaces remain a quiet place for patients to rest and recuperate. Moreover, the patient rooms feature sliding doors, special hardware and additional space, allowing patients to move more freely.
“This area has a large ante-room that can accommodate a therapy table and can be used for therapy if it is not appropriate for the patient to go to the main therapy gym,” Anne Richeson, RN, a Madonna nurse who provided design feedback on the construction project, said. “Overall, the specialized space creates a safer environment for the patient as well as our staff. We anticipate it will allow for better participation and even better outcomes for our patients.”
The new brain injury unit will also solidify Madonna’s reputation as an innovative leader in brain injury rehabilitation. We are proud to have 94 staff members, including nurses, therapists, counselors, case managers and social workers who are certified brain injury specialists (CBIS), including two CBIS trainers (CBIST). In fact, Madonna employs more than 75% of the CBIS/Ts in the state of Nebraska, according to the Brain Injury Association of America. Our expert team of brain injury specialists combined with the new state-of-the-art patient wing will certainly increase Madonna’s standing as a national destination for brain injury rehabilitation.
