SHEPHERD CENTER FOUNDATION INC

Shepherd Center, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is a private, not-for-profit hospital specializing in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury and brain injury.

Founded in 1975, Shepherd Center is ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top 10 rehabilitation hospitals in the nation.

Patients at Shepherd Center get more than just medical care; they get an experience that brings healing and hope. Shepherd takes a team approach to rehabilitation. We understand that patients are going through more than just recovery from an injury; they are learning a new way of life.

Continuum of Care
Shepherd Center offers a complete continuum of care, from evaluation and medical treatment to rehabilitation and lifelong support programs. Those we serve have access to programs that many other facilities don’t have, like therapeutic recreation, community outings, pastoral care, extensive family training, assistive technology, back-to-school programs, peer support, vocational counseling and return-to-work programs, and enhanced, post-discharge case management for all patients to help ease the transition back into the community.

Advanced Technology
Patients at Shepherd Center receive customized solutions to help them integrate daily tasks back into their lives. Experts and technology specialists help people customize an appropriate package of technological solutions that maximize independence in accomplishing day-to-day tasks.

Leaders in Research
Clinical studies are conducted in collaboration with leading experts at other hospitals, research centers, medical schools and universities around the world. Whether studying a new device, testing an improved surgical procedure or developing a new treatment method, research at Shepherd Center translates directly into an improved quality of life for our patients.

Accreditation
Shepherd Center is accredited by The Joint Commission and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Shepherd Center is also designated as a Model SCI System of Care by the National Institutes on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR.)

Patient and Family Training
Patients and families participate in training sessions to learn as much as possible about the injury or illness to manage ongoing medical care after returning home. Having a thorough understanding helps patients take full advantage of the rehabilitation process and can help prevent re-hospitalization.

We work with each person to draw up a blueprint for rehabilitation, tapping into state-of-the-art medical care and comprehensive educational services. We also serve as an ambassador to help patients navigate their journey over a lifetime. At Shepherd Center, we are a family, working together to help patients and their families obtain the care they need plus so much more.

Care for U.S. Service Members

SHARE Military Initiative at Shepherd Center is a comprehensive rehabilitation program that focuses on assessment and treatment for service men and women who have sustained a mild to moderate traumatic brain injury and PTSD from the Afghanistan and Iraqi conflicts.

SHARE Military Initiative provides assistance, support, and education to service members and their families during their recovery treatment and beyond. In addition, the program compiles data that is beneficial to policy and legislative change to provide for unfunded services.

Programs Funded Through Donations
Adolescent Patient Programs – This program provides teen-specific activities such as group activities, games and sports, as well as community outings to familiar venues such as the mall, restaurants and sporting events to keep our teenage patients motivated and help overcome social fears associated with their new disabilities.

Animal Assisted Therapy – Specially trained animals assist patients with physical therapy, motor skills, strength and endurance.

Assistive Technology – Supports the latest high tech tools and equipment for independent driving, communication, environmental control, and computer access.

Chaplaincy – Specially-trained chaplains provide counsel, support, and faith materials to patients and families and conduct worship services at the hospital.

Disability Advocacy – Our staff identifies and researches disability rights issues; educates the community, organizes local self-help networks, and acts as a local resource for state and national groups focused on the disabled.

Horticultural Therapy - Patients are trained to use adaptive tools for gardening as well as flower arranging and craft use.

Injury Prevention– The Injury Prevention Program at Shepherd provides materials and expert instruction to schools, employers and local organizations on simple steps to preventing catastrophic injury.

SHARE Military Initiative--The SHARE Military Initiative provides Shepherd’s full rehabilitation continuum of evaluation and treatment services for military personnel who have sustained brain injury, spinal cord injury or blast injury in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and during stateside training—at no cost to the patients or their families.

Multiple Sclerosis Support – Supports the Center’s Andrew C. Carlos MS Center, which provides patient evaluation, diagnostic & rehabilitation services, counseling, education & vocational services, therapeutic recreation, and ongoing research into drug therapies.

Multiple Sclerosis Research & Development – Shepherd Center provides a clinical environment for studies on MS disease-modifying therapies, rehabilitation, symptom management, and patient education.

Noble Learning Resource Center – The South’s only consumer health library devoted to brain and spinal cord injuries and related conditions, the NLRC contains a book and audio visual collection with more than 650 titles, numerous medical journals and magazines, literature databases, and, Internet access for library patrons.

Patient Assistance Fund -- Provides direct assistance to patients and their families to cover daily living and non-hospital expenses that are not covered by insurance.

Patient Equipment – Provides vital equipment such as wheelchairs or home modification to patients with limited financial resources.

Recreation Therapy – By offering a wide-array of community outings, sports and leisure activities for our patients and others with physical disabilities, recreation therapy encourages teamwork, builds self-confidence, and improves overall quality of life.

Sports Teams -- Provides operational, travel and equipment funding for Shepherd Center’s 12 accessible sports teams.

Virginia C. Crawford Research Institute – The hospital has focused on clinical research impacting quality of life, adjustment to injury, the prevention & treatment of secondary complications and community reintegration. Health services research explores ways to deliver patient care and control treatment costs. By measuring effectiveness, the Center can identify the most effective treatments.

Vocational Services – The Center provides current and former patients with vocation evaluation, counseling and job placement services. It also partners with employers and community resources to increase employment for people with disabilities.

Yancey Housing & Transportation Program – Family presence is critical to the patient’s rehabilitation. For families traveling greater than one hour, the hospital provides 30 days complimentary housing on campus in wheelchair accessible apartments while their loved one is receiving care.