SCI Primer15 Best Rehab Hospitals 
Questions to Consider When Selecting a Rehabilitation Program
There are several key factors to consider in choosing a rehabilitation facility.*
How many people are admitted to the spinal cord or brain injury rehabilitation program each year? How many patients has the facility treated with injuries similar to yours?Are there people in the program of the same age and sex as the person considering admission?Does the hospital specialize in spinal cord or brain injury rehabilitation services or is it just one of many medical services offered?Is the facility equipped to manage life-threatening emergencies? Is respiratory care provided on a 24-hour basis?Does the facility offer services for every stage of recovery including: intensive care; inpatient rehabilitation; day rehabilitation; outpatient servicesHow often and for how long each day to patients get treatment by specialists such as physical, occupational and speech therapists? Treatment should be no less than three hours per day.Are activities planned for patients on weekends and evenings?Are family members encouraged to participate in rehabilitation? To what extent?Are there free or low-cost living arrangements for family members participating in training?What percent of patients return to home or community rather than long-term care facilities? How does that compare to other treatment centers?Rehabilitation hospitals measure patient results in terms of "functional improvement." What is the facility's average functional improvement change for patients with spinal cord and brain injuries?What is the facility's average length of stay for people with injuries similar to yours?What types of coping and support services are available? Particularly for brain injury recovery, these should include: Peer support / individual and group therapy; psychotherapy; neuropsychology; family counseling; vocational counseling and substance abuse counseling.Were staff members helpful and friendly when information was requested? Were you offered an opportunity to tour the facility? What were your impression of the Rank
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Hospital
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1
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Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
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72.2
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2
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TIRR-The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, Houston
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42.3
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3
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University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle
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37.7
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4
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Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
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30.7
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5
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Craig Hospital, Englewood, Colo.
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26.6
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6
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Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, West Orange, N.J.
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26.1
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7
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Rusk Institute, NYU Medical Center, New York
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15.1
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8
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Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia
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15.0
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9
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Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston
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14.7
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10
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Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus
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14.2
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11
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Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Downey, Calif.
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13.5
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12
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Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore
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12.7
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13
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National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, D.C.
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11.2
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14
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University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor
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9.5
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15
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Moss Rehabilitation Hospital, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia
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8.1
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Top 15 rehabilitation hospitals as rated by US News.
"The four other specialties (eyes, pediatrics, psychiatry, and rehabilitation) were treated differently. This is because mortality data are unavailable in pediatrics and are largely irrelevant in eyes, psychiatry, and rehabilitation. So hospitals in these specialties are ranked solely on reputation."