Spinal Cord Injury
The JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute offers inpatient and outpatient treatment, unique support services, and cutting edge technology and techniques to maximize recovery.
Located adjacent to JFK Medical Center, our spinal cord patients have around the clock access to comprehensive and extensive medical and behavioral services. The interdisciplinary team will work with you to maximize your recovery as you move through the stages of recovery. Our expert rehabilitation specialists are highly skilled in treating all aspects of Spinal Cord Injury and associated complications such as skin integrity, spasticity, bowel and bladder issues, autonomic dysreflexia, and musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain issues. We assist patients with maintaining and strengthening muscle function, redevelop fine motor skills and teach adaptive techniques to accomplish tasks. By embracing a shared goal, we join our patients in meeting their individual goals – returning to a favorite hobby, participating in social or fitness activities, or going back to school or work.
Scope of Services
The Spinal Cord Injury Program in Outpatient Rehabilitation serves adult and adolescents after a spinal cord injury. We accept patient with injuries below the level of C5 and the injury can be complete or incomplete.
Outpatient Physical and Occupational Therapy services are provided directly to the spinal cord patient population Monday through Friday. Occupational Therapy services are provided from 730 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday and Physical Therapy Services are provided from 730am – 8pm, Monday through Thursday and 7:30-5pm on Friday. Patients are seen two to three times a week depending on individual patient needs.
Patients in this program are referred from hospital and physician providers throughout the following areas: HMH network; local, regional, statewide, national, and international facilities. Payers include both government sponsored (Medicare, Medicaid), as well as third party payers, including commercial insurances, workers’ compensation, motor vehicle insurance, and private/self pay. All insurances are verified for coverage prior to the initiation of services. Fees for services can be obtained through the Outpatient Rehabiltation department.
All services are provided directly at the HMH Johnson Rehabilitation Institute.
Comprehensive Spinal Cord Services
- Board-certified rehabilitation medicine physicians with specialized training and expertise in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Inpatient rehabilitation program providing intensive therapies and 24-hour rehabilitation nursing care
- Outpatient rehabilitation program providing one-on-one care
- Specialized areas also include Spasticity Management, Pain Management and Orthotic Evaluation (custom braces)
- Wheelchair and seating assessment/prescription by a team of experts, including rehabilitation medicine physicians, occupational therapists, and representative from a wheelchair company
- Driver Training Program conducted by Occupational Therapists (Certified Driver Training Specialists) to evaluate and assess for the ability to return to driving
- JFK for Life Health & Fitness Center offering medically based and supervised fitness programs at the completion of rehabilitation.
Dedicated to the Highest Quality
Our interdisciplinary team uses evidence-based best practices to deploy proven interventions for patients that help to prevent pressure ulcers, as well as enhance the healing process of existing wounds. As a result, our acquired pressure ulcer rate is consistently below national rates, and our healing rate for existing pressure ulcers is 96%. We also utilize the JFK Center for Wound Healing for appropriate patients in their treatment plan, offering the specialized services to evaluate and treat chronic, non-healing wounds.
FAQ’s
Q. What are the effects of a spinal cord injury?
A. The effects of SCI depend on the type of injury and the level of injury. A complete injury means there is no sensation and no voluntary movement below the level of the injury and therefor no function An incomplete injury means that there is some sparing of sensation or voluntary movement below the level of injury. For example, a person in an incomplete injury may be able to move one limb more than the other or may be they can feel parts of the body that cannot be moved.
Q. How does the level of injury affect a person’s function?
A. Although function may vary generally injuries to the cervical (neck) injuries usually result in quadriplegia where the arms, legs and trunk muscles are affected and breathing can also be affected. Injuries at the thoracic level and below result in paraplegia, with the hands not affected. Some patients may have poor trunk control as the result of lack of abdominal muscle control. Lower thoracic spine injuries allow good truck control and good abdominal muscle control. Sitting balance is very good. Lumbar and Sacral injuries result in decreased control or weakness of the legs.
Q. Is there a cure for SCI?
A. Currently there is no cure for SCI. There are many researchers attacking this problem. Many of the most exciting advances have resulted in a decrease in damage at the time of the injury.
Resources
Caregivers
- ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center – Organization to help caregivers and families locate respite services in their communities.
Phone: 360-769-7167 - Interfaith Network of Care Inc. – New Jersey nonprofit organization that provides personal and social support to people coping with chronic health conditions or disabilities and their caregivers.
Phone: 732-247-1655 - SpinalCord.com – Discusses caregiver stress and how to juggle your role as a caregiver with various coping strategies and links to additional resources for further support.
- Family Caregiver Alliance – State-by-state navigation to help family caregivers locate public, nonprofit, and private programs and services nearest their loved one.
Phone: 800-445-8106 - Shepherd Center – Educational materials regarding various aspects of spinal cord injury for patients, family members, and caregivers.
Phone: 404-350-7463 - Friends Health Connection – Organization that provides support, education, and information for individuals with health problems and their families.
- Facing Disability – Designed to connect families facing spinal cord injuries to help them cope with the changing realities of their lives. Provides extensive resources for family and caregiver support.
- Well Spouse Association – Organization serving the needs of spousal caregivers. Excellent resources for finding local support groups, encouraging articles, mentoring opportunities, meetings, conferences, and respite weekends.
Phone: 732-577-8899
Employment And Advocacy
- Abilities of Northwest Jersey – A private not-for-profit program that provides community integrated employment and Day Program Service for persons with disabilities in the Warren, Sussex, Hunterdon and Morris counties.
Phone: 908-689-1118 - Central Jersey Spinal Cord Association – A not-for-profit that provides advocacy and financial assistance to person with spinal cord dysfunction in central New Jersey.
Phone: 732-220-0870 - Division of Disability Services – Administrates programs that allow persons with disabilities to live more independently in the community. Information and resources related to health, education, civil rights and assistance programs.
Phone: 888-285-3036 - New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services – Assists persons with disabilities find and maintain employment though the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Phone: 609-292-5987 - Resource Center & Legal Help for Brain and Spinal Cord Injury –
Medical, financial and legal information for patient and caregivers of persons with spinal cord injury - Ticket to Work – Program that connects persons with permanent disability with free employment services. Assists persons with permanent disability who receive SSDI and SSI navigate their employment options.
Phone: 1-866-968-7842
Fitness and Wellness
- JFK for Life Health and Fitness Center – 65 James Street, Edison, NJ 08820
Phone: 732-632-1610 - Family Resource Associates/ TECH Connection – Assists persons with disabilities reach their full potential through specialized therapies and advances Technology. They also provide support and education to families and care-givers.
Phone: 732-747-5310 - Push to Walk – A physical fitness program that provides individualized workouts and resources to persons with spinal cord injuries and other forms of paralysis. Their goal is to optimize the level of fitness for persons with disabilities related to paralysis.
Phone: 201-644-7567
Housing, Transportation, Mobility and Travel
- NJ Transit Accessibility Information – Provides information on accessible services available to persons with disabilities and senior citizens such as Access Link, ADA Paratransit.
Phone: 973-275-5555 - State List of Centers for Independent Living – Provides information on research education, housing and community services for persons with disability.
- NJ 211 Emergency Preparedness – Provides information and resources for emergency preparedness and planning such as evacuation, rescue, fire and flood safety.
Phone: 211
Medical Information And Research
- New Jersey Commission on Spinal Cord Research – Created to encourage and promote significant and original research projects in New Jersey at qualifying research institutions within the state.
Phone: 609-292-4055 - Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation – Offers medical and research resources for those with SCI.
Phone: 800-539-7309 - Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center – A national center that helps facilitate the knowledge translation process to make SCI research accessible to persons with SCI, their caregivers and family. Provides updated research based patient education, resources and videos in an easy to understand format.
Peer and Support Groups
Central Jersey Spinal Cord Association – A not-for-profit that provides advocacy and financial assistance to person with spinal cord dysfunction in central New Jersey.
Phone: 732-220-0870
Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) – Local based organization focused on increasing independence for persons with disabilities. Multiple peer support groups- young men, women, LGBTQ.
Address: 629 Amboy Ave, Edison, NJ 08837
Phone: 732-738-4388
SCI Peer and Resource Group – Last Thursday of every Month, January to October
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
Address: 119 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ 07052
Contact: Ron Moore | Email: rjmoore@kessler-rehab.com
Phone: 973-243-6912
SCI Support Group – Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation- 3rd Thursday every month 4-6pm Address: 61 W. Jimmie Leeds Rd, Pomona, NJ 08240
Phone: 609-748-5411
New Jersey Self-Help Group Clearinghouse – A not-for-profit organization funded through the Division of Mental Health Services that assists people with finding and forming self-help and support groups. Phone: 800-367-6274
United Spinal Association – Regional peer and advocacy support for persons living with spinal cord dysfunction.
Online Groups and Forums – Spinalpedia- Online based, open forum that offers social mentoring and networking for persons living with spinal cord dysfunction.
Facing Disability – Online based support group that provides support to persons and families living with spinal cord injury.
Reeve Foundation Paralysis Community – online forum for questions and feedback about SCI
Spinal Cord Injury Prevention
Risk Factors for Spinal Cord Injury
- Gender: 80% of those sustaining spinal cord injury after the age of 12 are males
- Age: The majority of spinal cord injuries are between the ages of 16 and 30
- Race: More than 65% of those with spinal cord injuries are Caucasian; 27% are African-American
- Activities: Participation in certain sports can increase injury risk. More than 60% of injuries from sports or recreation are related to diving accidents
Spinal Cord Prevention Tips
Vehicles
- Always wear a seatbelt when driving or riding in a motor vehicle
- Make sure child seats are properly installed
- Avoid distractions while driving, including texting, talking on the phone, eating
- Never drive a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Falls
- Be sure your home and stairways are well-lit
- Installing and repairing handrails on staircases may be helpful
- Keep floors, pathways and stairs clear – identify obstacles and hazards
- Avoid slippery surfaces including throw rugs & utilize non slip mats in the bathtub
- Place items in kitchen shelves within reach on lower shelves
- Install grab bars in the bathroom next to the toilet and tub
- Accessibility – ramp installation or chair lift as needed
Sports Safety
- Always wear a helmet and all suggested safety equipment
- It is important to replace worn or damaged protective equipment
- Learn all of the rules of contact sports, following rules may prevent injury
- Avoid extreme sports such as bungee jumping, sky-diving, and base-jumping
- Be sure there is proper supervision
Pool Safety
- Have clearly visible depth indicators around the entire pool
- Do not allow anyone to dive into water less than 9 feet deep
- Clearly indicate appropriate diving areas
- Be sure pool area is adequately lit and clear of hazards
- Have someone trained in water safety present at parties
Work Safety
- Work environments should be kept clean, organized and clear of trip hazards
- Ensure that equipment & machinery is maintained, inspected regularly and repaired as needed
- Proper training of employees in their respective duties in order to carry out their job safely
- Appropriate precautions to prevent injury and possible risks explained
- Utilize proper safety gear and follow OSHA regulations – many of work injuries include height incidents involving ladders
Sports and Fitness Associations
- Children’s Specialized Hospital Lightning Wheels – Paralympic Sport New Jersey
- Disabled Sports USA South Jersey Chapter
- United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
- United States Rowing Association
- North Jersey Navigators – Paralympic Sport New Jersey
- New Jersey Freeze
- Athletes with Disabilities Network North East Chapter
- US Adaptive Sailing