Department of Rehabilitation Medicine

S-SCI-MS offers rehabilitation for those individuals who have a SCI and are on ventilator support. The goals of the program include SCI rehabilitation, education, and when possible, weaning.

Every effort is made to wean the individual off the ventilator. This is done through the cooperative efforts of physiatrists and internists specializing in pulmonary medicine, in conjunction with rehabilitation nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and respiratory therapists. If weaning does not appear possible, electrophysiologic testing of both phrenic nerves and the diaphragm is done to determine the individual's candidacy for electrophrenic nerve pacing. In some cases, the person may remain ventilator dependent.

Throughout the person's stay intensive education is provided to the patient and his or her family members, in order to ensure knowledge of ventilator settings and alarms. Family members become comfortable managing the care of their loved ones who use the ventilator; they learn suctioning, how to perform an assistive cough, and transferring a person connected to the ventilator.

Discharge plans for individuals requiring ventilator support involve discharge home with appropriate equipment and support services.