Neurorehabilitation

The Boston University Department of Neurology is dedicated to the long term management of patients with neurological disorders. Our commitment does not end at diagnosis and acute management. Neurologic problems often require rehabilitation to ensure optimal return of function. Neurorehabilitation is the process of restoration of function for persons with disorders of the nervous system. This process involves multiple disciplines and the application of strategies aimed at reducing impairments, disabilities and handicaps, and ultimately enhancing quality of life for persons with neurological disorders. Rehabilitation involves restoration of functioning or facilitation of compensatory or adaptive functioning. Rehabilitative techniques promote restoration of function through the interaction of learning and natural recovery processes, including regeneration and plasticity. The practice of rehabilitation involves a team process, highly dependent on the interaction of multiple treatment agents and factors. The patient is the ultimate target of treatment, but at the same time serves as a member of the team along with his or her family and other members of their social network.

The Boston University Rehabilitation Neurology Program is centered at the HealthSouth Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital (HBRH). HBRH is freestanding rehabilitation hospital with 167 beds and a large outpatient facility, including over 50 satellites in New England. Our rehabilitation neurologists have over 20 years experience in both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative management of patients with a variety of neurologic disorders including:

diamond shaped bullet Traumatic Brain Injury
diamond shaped bullet Stroke
diamond shaped bullet Aneurysmal Subarachnoid
diamond shaped bullet Hemorrhage
diamond shaped bullet Anoxic Brain Injury
diamond shaped bullet Encephalitis
diamond shaped bullet Parkinson’s disease
diamond shaped bullet Brain tumors
diamond shaped bullet Spinal Cord Injury
diamond shaped bullet Guillaine-Barre Syndrome
diamond shaped bullet Peripheral Nerve Injuries.
diamond shaped bullet Peripheral Neuropathy
diamond shaped bullet Balance and Gait Disorders
diamond shaped bullet Multiple Sclerosis
diamond shaped bullet Movement Disorders

We care for both inpatients and outpatients on a short term or long term basis. The rehabilitation group had particular training and expertise in management and rehabilitation of cognitive and behavioral dysfunction (behavioral neurology) related to neurological disorders. Services available at HealthSouth Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital are as follows:

diamond shaped bullet Integrated Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy
diamond shaped bullet Tone Management / Botox and Neurolytic blocks
diamond shaped bullet Neuropsychology Evaluation Behavior management Cognitive Rehabilitation
diamond shaped bullet Neurorehabilitation Day treatment and community reentry programming
diamond shaped bullet Bracing Equipment needs
diamond shaped bullet Driving Assessment
diamond shaped bullet Medication Management

Education programs:

diamond shaped bullet Fellowship training in neurorehabilitation (12 fellows trained since 1987);
diamond shaped bullet Neurorehabilitation electives for residents and medical students;
diamond shaped bullet Inservices for rehabilitation program staff.

Research:

Faculty are involved in a number of research projects including outcomes research in traumatic brain injury; recovery and treatment trials of patients with prolonged unconsciousness; treatment trials of agents to promote recovery after stroke and TBI (citicholine); memory disorders (donepezil for TBI); recovery after anoxic brain injury; frontal lobe dysfunction

Referrals:

Patients are frequently referred from acute care hospitals, or by their physicians. Self referrals are accepted. For admission for inpatient rehabilitation:

  1. from an acute care hospital: Contact the Admissions Department at HBRH at 781-8848-5353 X2138
  2. for outpatient evaluation or admission: 781-848-5363 X 2265 or 781-331-9944

Faculty:

diamond shaped bullet Douglas I. Katz, M.D.
diamond shaped bullet Brigid Dwyer, M.D.