The information below answers some of the questions we frequently hear from referral sources, case managers, potential clients, and their families.
The immediate priority following a TBI is medical stabilization to prevent secondary brain damage. While in the hospital, confirm which physician (typically an ICU intensivist, neurosurgeon, or physiatrist) is guiding overall treatment. Ask for the current Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score and Rancho Los Amigos Scale level. These standardized measures determine cognitive and functional recovery stages. Appoint one family member to communicate with the medical staff, take notes during rounds, and maintain a log of medications, test results, and daily behavioral changes.
Acute brain injury care takes place in a hospital or intensive care unit immediately after an injury, focusing on medical stabilization and saving lives. Post-acute rehabilitation begins once a patient is medically stable and focuses on restoring functional independence, managing neurobehavioral changes, and helping individuals return to home, work, and community life.
Request a family meeting with the hospital case manager or discharge planner immediately. Ask specifically for facilities accredited by CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) with a specialized Brain Injury Specialty Program.
Contact the insurer or Medicaid/Medicare representative to verify pre-authorization requirements for inpatient or post-acute rehab stays.
Ensure a Physiatrist (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation doctor) and a Neuropsychologist evaluate the patient before discharge to establish a targeted therapy plan.
If transitioning home later, request home safety evaluations and arrange for home health support or outpatient appointments ahead of time.
Brain injury recovery is a long-term process that varies significantly for each person and each case. While the most rapid physical recovery often occurs within the first 6 to 12 months, cognitive, emotional, and functional gains continue for years when supported by ongoing, targeted post-acute rehabilitation and community-based support.
Yes, a concussion is considered a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). While many individuals recover spontaneously within 2 to 4 weeks, a significant percentage experiences persistent symptoms—known as Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS). Targeted post-concussion rehabilitation is recommended when symptoms like headache, dizziness, brain fog, fatigue, or mood changes persist past 3 to 4 weeks.
Rehabilitation for persistent mTBI symptoms relies on an individualized, interdisciplinary approach rather than prolonged rest:
Usually, a gradual return protocol is necessary following a mild TBI. Premature exposure to full cognitive and physical loads can trigger symptom flare-ups and delay brain healing. Post-acute care team members work with employers, schools, and case managers to implement temporary accommodations, such as reduced hours, modified screen time, and structured rest breaks.
Moderate TBI typically involves a longer period of loss of consciousness (20 minutes to 6 hours), abnormal neuroimaging (CT/MRI scans showing contusions, bleeding, or axonal injury), and longer periods of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA).
While mild TBI rehab focuses heavily on symptom resolution and exertion tolerance, moderate TBI rehabilitation focuses on functional restoration, addressing motor deficits, speech/swallowing difficulties, significant cognitive impairments, and adaptive living skills across a longer recovery timeline.
Depending on clinical needs, a person recovering from a moderate TBI may move through several levels of post-acute care:
A complete spinal cord injury results in a total loss of sensory and motor function below the level of the injury. An incomplete spinal cord injury means some nerve signals still pass through the injury site, leaving varying degrees of sensation or movement below the injury level. Both types benefit significantly from specialized physical, occupational, and adaptive technology therapies.
Common secondary complications include pressure injuries (bedsores), autonomic dysreflexia, spasticity, neurogenic bowel and bladder dysfunction, and respiratory issues. Specialized SCI post-acute care focuses heavily on educating patients and families on prevention, bowel and bladder management, and skin integrity protocols to avoid re-hospitalization.
Yes. With comprehensive rehabilitation—including adaptive equipment training, home accessibility modifications, mobility retraining, and vocational rehabilitation—many individuals with SCI achieve high levels of personal independence and successfully return to work, driving, and community activities.
Collage Rehabilitation Partners brings together its legacy brands, which were trusted national leaders—including ReMed, Learning Services, Tree of Life, and Collage Home & Community Rehabilitation—under one unified mission. Clients receive the same high-standard, localized clinical care they have trusted for decades, now backed by an expanded 12-state network and combined clinical resources.
Learn more on the Collage Rehabilitation Partners page.
We accept referrals from hospital discharge planners, physiatrists, nurse case managers, workers’ compensation adjusters, personal injury attorneys, and family members.
We work with a wide range of funding sources, including workers’ compensation, commercial health insurance, auto liability/no-fault insurance, Medicaid waivers (varies by state), structured settlements, and private pay options. Our admissions team handles complete coverage verification and authorization support.
Our clinical evaluation team typically conducts an initial assessment within 24 to 48 hours of receiving a referral. We work closely with hospital discharge planners and case managers to ensure smooth, timely transitions without care delays.
Learn more on the How to Refer page.
Neurobehavioral symptoms include changes in mood, agitation, impulsivity, executive dysfunction, and memory loss caused by damage to specific areas of the brain. These symptoms can be effectively managed in specialized post-acute environments using positive behavior support strategies, cognitive therapies, and structured daily routines designed by neuropsychologists and behavior specialists.
Moderate TBIs frequently impact the frontal lobes, leading to changes in executive function (planning, organizing, initiating tasks) as well as self-awareness, emotional regulation, and impulse control. Cognitive rehabilitation builds compensatory strategies (using digital planners, memory aids, and structured routines), while positive neurobehavioral support helps individuals manage frustration, rebuild social skills, and regain independence.
Learn more on the Neurobehavioral Rehabilitation page.
Post-acute neurorehabilitation is designed for patients who are medically stable but still require structured physical, cognitive, or behavioral therapies before safely returning home. Good candidates are medically stable, have the stamina to participate in structured therapy, may display ongoing challenges with cognitive processing, motor function, speech, or behavioral self-regulation that prevent independent living, and require a structured environment to practice daily living activities safely.
Clinicians track progress using standardized neuro-assessment tools such as the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory (MPAI-4), Supervision Rating Scale, Overt Behavior Scale, Functional Independence Measure (FIM/FAM), and Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Functioning. These metrics allow care teams to track gains in physical mobility, daily living tasks (ADLs), cognition, behavioral stability and awareness.
Learn more on the Post-Acute Neurorehabilitation page.
Collage Rehabilitation Partners provides a comprehensive continuum of post-acute care tailored to individual needs, including:
Since 1984, Collage Rehabilitation Partners has provided comprehensive post-acute rehabilitation and supported living in residential and non-residential settings. These settings differ in size, intensity, and staffing, based upon the specific needs of the individuals we serve. Our treatment teams have years of experience and are dedicated to providing specialized treatment that will result in positive outcomes.
Appropriate post-acute rehabilitation requires resources that offer expert treatment, regardless of where the services are located. Our specialized programs allow regional access and a transition closer to home when goals are met. Understandably, some people are reluctant to travel from home to receive care, but for our patients, the opportunity to participate in a premier program is a short-term sacrifice for a long-term, successful outcome.
Your case manager, assigned to you at admission, will be the key point of contact for your family. Your case manager will conduct regular meetings with your treatment team and insurance representatives, and provide you with informal updates as often as needed.
Each program has its own medical director (as well as other consulting physicians) who understands neurologic injury, works closely with the client, and works as part of the treatment team to move the client forward.
Starting on the day of admission, our teams keep clients motivated to work hard toward getting back home. Each client’s situation is unique and every individual has different goals, so there is no “typical” day at our programs. Weekdays usually include a mixture of structured therapy, group programming, and other interventions, as well as appointments and activities that occur from the time clients wake up until the time they go to bed. Our treatment plans are designed to actively engage clients and move them beyond their challenges and back to a productive life.
Home and community-based care applies therapy directly to real-world environments. Therapists work with clients in their own homes, neighborhoods, job sites, and local businesses to practice real-life skills—such as meal preparation, navigating public transit, managing finances, and returning to work—promoting faster generalization of functional skills.
Learn more on the What We Do page.
If you have other questions or want to speak with someone in our admissions department, use the contact form below.