Rehabilitation Care After an Injury
This Trauma Awareness Month, learn how inpatient care can help you recover after a traumatic injury
Accidents that lead to traumatic injuries are one of the in Washington. Traumatic injuries include car accidents, falls, drownings, and sports or recreation injuries.
If you’ve survived a traumatic injury, it’s important to get rehabilitation care. Trauma rehabilitation, also known as recovery care, plays a major role in the healing process. Rehabilitation care can help you recover, improve your quality of life, and cut down on long-term costs of care.
Trauma rehabilitation helps you focus on recovery and increases the chances of returning to your regular activities after an injury. Inpatient rehabilitation care can also help people recovering from serious medical conditions like stroke, heart attack, brain disease, or cancer.
During , we highlight the important work of inpatient trauma rehabilitation facilities in our state. Learn more about options for trauma rehabilitation in Washington and what to consider when choosing a rehabilitation facility.
Inpatient vs. Outpatient Trauma Recovery Care
Options for trauma rehabilitation include both outpatient and inpatient care.
Inpatient care facilities specialize in providing care after an injury or serious medical condition. They have specialized resources and equipment to help you heal, regain some or all of your physical function, and learn to adapt to the injury or disability.
Outpatient rehabilitation facilities provide care after you leave the hospital. These facilities help you continue with your recovery goals and reduce the long-term effects of your injuries. Examples of care they provide include:
- Learning how to hold a pencil again
- Regaining movement after a fall
- Participating in group meetings to talk about recovery experiences
Many people with serious injuries will need inpatient care, at least at first.
Tweedy’s story helps highlight the benefits of inpatient rehabilitation care after a serious car accident. In the video below, Cameron learns to walk using a new ZeroG lift.
Trauma rehabilitation facilities in Washington
If you need inpatient care in Washington, you have nine facilities to choose from:
- in Seattle
- in Puyallup
- in Spokane
- in Seattle
- in Pasco
- in Vancouver
- in Everett
- in Walla Walla
- in Wenatchee
.
Trauma rehabilitation services
The hospital will help with the transfer to a trauma rehabilitation facility, where you’ll get specialized care from doctors, therapists, and nurses.
Your care providers from the hospital will work with the care providers at the facility to make sure you get the right care.
Some of the specialty services provided include:
- Assistive technology programs, which use smart technology to help with tasks
- Augmented and alternative communications therapy to help people learn to communicate without speech
- Behavioral health programs, including mental health and wellness programs
- Brain injury programs
- Burn care
- Driving therapy
- Low vision therapy, including support like phones with large buttons or magnifying glasses
- Major multiple trauma programs for people with injuries to multiple areas of the body
- Occupational therapy
- Pediatric specialists
- Support groups
- Therapeutic recreation
- Voice therapy
- Wound care specialists
Choosing a facility
Here are some factors to consider when choosing an inpatient rehabilitation facility for you or a loved one:
- Can the facility support my goals and needs for recovery?
- Does my insurance cover the program?
- Can my family participate?
- What accreditation, licensing, or special certifications does the facility have?
- Does the facility have specialty providers?
- Does the facility offer group therapy sessions?
You can ask your hospital care team these questions before your transfer to a rehabilitation facility. Your hospital care team can help you and your family navigate the process and make the best choice for your care.
Licensing and Accreditation Information
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) designates trauma rehabilitation facilities and works to make sure facilities provide care in accordance with .
All designated trauma rehabilitation facilities in Washington must be fully accredited with the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). CARF inspects rehabilitation facilities and provides detailed reports to the facility and DOH.
This nationally recognized organization sets rigorous standards of care that meet or exceed Washington standards. Examples of these standards include staffing, education, services, and equipment requirements.
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