Medical Care
The Continuum or Journey of Patient Care for a TBI
The Continuum or Journey of Patient Care for a TBI
Continuum of care is a term used in healthcare to explain the journey or stages a patient will experience from injury or illness through rehabilitation and the hope of recovery. The severe TBI care journey begins with hospital emergency care, the ICU (Intensive care unit), and acute inpatient care – followed by rehabilitation (see top navigation tab Rehab Resources) that should most likely include acute rehabilitation, post-acute rehabilitation, possibly sub-acute rehabilitation, day rehab in a hospital or other rehab facility, and outpatient therapy.
Acute Hospital Care
Hospital Care Following a Head Injury
Website: https://www.brainline.org/article/hospital-care
Treatment in the Hospital
Website: https://www.biausa.org/brain-injury/about-brain-injury/treatment/treatment-in-the- hospital
Level I and Level II Trauma Centers
Hospital emergency rooms provide care for many types of injuries and emergencies from minor to severe, but not all hospital emergency rooms are designated trauma centers. A trauma center is equipped to treat people who have the most severe and high-risk injuries. Level I and Level II
trauma centers are the most equipped to respond to a traumatic brain injury.
Level I Trauma Center – is the highest designation given to a comprehensive hospital trauma center in Texas. Level I trauma centers provide regional resources for patients who require complex trauma care. Trauma and general surgeons as well as specialists in critical care, internal medicine, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, oral maxillofacial surgery, and plastic surgery are onsite to provide 24-hour trauma care. A Level I trauma center is also capable of providing rehabilitation.
Level I and Level II Trauma Centers
Website: https://www.christushealth.
Level II Trauma Center – provides 24-hour immediate coverage by general surgeons as well as specialists in anesthesiology, critical care, emergency medicine, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and radiology. A Level II trauma center is able to initiate definitive care for all injured patients.
Level I and Level II Trauma Centers
Website: https://www.christushealth.
In addition, East Texas is home to a number of Level III Advanced Trauma Centers and Level IV Basic Trauma Centers. For a list of Level III and Level IV trauma centers in East Texas, go to https://dshs.texas.gove/emstraumasystems/etrahosp.shtm.