Texas NeuroRehab Center offers specialized treatment of complex neurological and medical needs that can include respiratory and wound care. You will be followed by a team of at least two physicians, which may include: a neurologist, critical care pulmonologist, internal medicine physician, physiatrist, wound-certified physician, neuropsychologist and/or psychiatrist. We offer 24-hour respiratory services and 24 hour nursing services. Additionally, you will receive at minimum three hours of therapy per day, 5-6 days per week. You will not receive therapy on Sundays.

The average length of stay in an acute facility is 2-7 days, while the average length of stay at Texas NeuroRehab Center is 25 days. This longer length of stay is necessary for the amount of therapy needed to achieve the best outcomes. Our goal is to discharge you back to your home at a level where you are safe, medically stable and able to resume some or all of the activities that you were previously able to do.

All of the rooms in our facility are private, though some bathrooms may be shared by another patient of the same gender. Transitions can be unnerving, but we are here to make your transfer as smooth as possible. We want you and your family to be very active in your care while at TNC.

Pre-Admission

Once you have been clinically accepted and your funding has been approved, you and your family will meet with one of our clinical liaisons.

The clinical liaison and our admissions coordinator will be calling your family and the case manager or social worker where you are transferring from to coordinate transfer to our facility. We will also work to coordinate the transfer orders that will include medications and instructions, as well as transportation and any equipment needs. We will assure that you have the appropriate medications and equipment prior to your arrival.

What to Bring

• Enough clothing for 7-10 days that can include: athletic style t-shirts and short or long pants with elastic bands.
  • * The summers here are hot and last until mid-October. Cool, casual, and comfortable clothes are most appropriate for our climate, activities, and therapies. In the fall, our temperatures usually stay in the 70’s or 80’s, and winters are usually mild (50-60 degrees most days). *We do have onsite laundry available for patient use.
• Tennis shoes
• Jacket, sweater or hoodie
• Knit hat
• Lightweight blanket or throw
• Personal toiletries
• Personal mementos/photos
• Cell phone, cell phone charger and iPad or tablet (wifi free of charge)
  • *Although theft/loss/damage are rare/unlikely events, clients should not bring expensive or irreplaceable items unless absolutely necessary as we cannot be held responsible for their loss.
• Undergarments (for female patients, please bring bras or sports bras)
• Socks
• Pajamas and a bathrobe
• Driver’s License or other form of ID card
• Social Security Card
• Medicare/Medicaid Cards
• Insurance Cards
• Pharmacy Insurance Cards
• Legal Documentation – Guardianship, Power of Attorney, Living Will, Advance Directives if applicable.

Accommodations

• Each room has a hospital bed and, if needed, will be equipped with any specialty beds or mattresses prior to your arrival. Rooms also include a sink, shared bathroom, internal desk with lamp and recliner or bench for family to stay overnight. Additional pillows and bed linens can be provided, but families are welcome to bring their own if preferred.
• Bath linens are also provided, but family is welcome to bring their own if preferred.
• Flat screen televisions with cable are provided in every room

If you have any questions or concerns prior to admission please contact your Clinical Liaison or our Admissions Coordinator, Carol Freeman at 512-462-6617.

Admission Day

Upon admission, you will be greeted and shown to your room. If you are not immediately greeted, please ask any of our staff for help. Your nurse will be with you shortly to complete the initial evaluation and assessment. If you need something before your nurse arrives, please alert staff immediately.
Our staff will ensure that your transfer orders were received, and will ensure that medications and equipment are set up and ready. If you have any issues with medication or equipment, please alert staff immediately.

A nurse will see you in your room upon your arrival. A physician will see you within the first 24 hours and the therapy team will begin your evaluation within the first 48 hours. Evaluations and therapies are offered Monday-Saturday. Sundays are reserved for rest and time with family and friends. You will meet with your assigned case manager within the first 48 hours to begin discussing your discharge plan and any questions related to funding.

After Admission

Each day at Texas NeuroRehab Center is different for every patient. Care, rehabilitation and schedules are individualized to each patient and their needs.

Monday through Friday, a patient’s morning routine consists of hygiene, medication and breakfast before starting scheduled activities. We encourage patients to stay out of bed throughout the day, if medically acceptable. We also encourage families to stay and participate in daily activities.
Weekdays are typically very busy with scheduled therapy sessions until 5pm, including an hour each for breakfast, lunch and dinner. All patients are encouraged to eat meals in the cafeteria, unless the physician has determined medically inappropriate. Some therapy sessions will also be held during mealtimes, such as speech therapy.

Saturday may include some therapy, but weekends are less busy and patients are encouraged to spend time with family and, if permitted, may leave campus for a day pass to visit family as well.

When you call our facility you will be connected with our admissions personnel who can discuss your child’s needs and what the next steps entail to get your child reviewed for admission.

After your child is reviewed, you will receive a quick response as to whether he/she is clinically accepted for admission. Authorization from your funding source has to be obtained prior to admission to the facility. Our admissions department will explain this process and obtain that authorization. Once the treatment is authorized then we coordinate the admission.

If you are coming from far away, we will coordinate transportation options. We highly encourage a parent or guardian to accompany their child for admission. It is important for you to feel comfortable placing your child in our care and equally important for us to find out what your ideas and goals are for treatment. When flying to Austin, you will use Austin Bergstrom International Airport. We will be able to help you get to Texas NeuroRehab Center from the airport.

When you arrive you will begin the admission process. This consists of completing admission paperwork, meeting with the assigned clinical therapist for your child and our admitting physician. Once these assessments have been completed, you will go to the living unit where your child will be staying and meet with the nurse. We know that you are showing a huge act of faith in placing your child with us, and when you leave, we hope you will feel comforted in knowing we will do our very best to treat and take good care of your child. Upon completion of the admission process, we will assist with getting you back to the airport or to a hotel.

Your child’s treatment team will consist of:

• Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist
• Clinical Therapist
• Case Manager
• Recreational Therapist
• Special Education Teachers
• Ancillary therapists if appropriate such as Occupational Therapist or Speech Therapist
• Unit Registered Nurses and unit staff

The treatment team will complete assessments and formulate the Master Treatment Plan within the first week of admission. The Case Manager will notify you of this meeting for your participation. The Treatment Plan will be updated every 28 days and your involvement is critical to our success throughout treatment and for discharge planning.

Stacy Stroia, Clinical Liaison gives an overview of the referral process at the Tejas Post-Acute Brain Injury Program.