Referrals and Admission Criteria

Referrals to the Acquired Brain Injury Program

Acquired Brain Injury referrals can be made by calling the Rehabilitation Referral Line at 336-713-8500 or 888-605-9568.

Referrals are accepted from a variety of sources including: acute care units at Wake Forest Baptist Health; inpatients at other hospitals; residents of skilled nursing facilities; outpatients.

Clinically appropriate adolescents and adults may be referred by families, physicians, social workers, case managers, nurses, and other health care professionals.

On-Site Evaluation of Referrals

If a patient is considered clinically appropriate, an on-site evaluation may be scheduled. There is no charge for this evaluation, which usually occurs within 24 hours of the referral.

As part of the on-site evaluation, a nurse evaluator reviews the medical record, speaks with the patient and family, and consults with clinicians who have cared for the patient. The nurse evaluator also discusses the philosophy of Inpatient Rehabilitation, the methods used for rehabilitation, expected outcomes, and the Medical Center's code of ethics with the patient and family.

The nurse evaluator will also gather insurance information to ensure communication concerning coverage is made timely to the family and patient. Most insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid of North Carolina cover the cost of rehabilitative services. Financial counselors at Wake Forest Baptist Health are available to help patients apply for financial assistance, as needed.

Families considering admission are invited and encouraged to tour our facility. Please call 336-713-8500 or toll-free 888-605-9568 for additional information on referring a patient to the J. Paul Sticht Center’s Acquired Brain Injury Program.

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Admission Criteria

Patients admitted to the Acquired Brain Injury Program must have realistic rehabilitation goals which reflect the potential for gaining independence or achieving a higher function in self care activities, speech/language function or cognitive function. Patients must be responsive to verbal and/or visual stimuli and be able to consistently follow at least one step commands. Patients must also meet other admission criteria to qualify for admission:

• Have had a recent significant functional loss
• Require and be able to participate in physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy for a total of 3 hours each day
• Need more than one therapy
• Have potential for improvement
• Have a supportive social system
• Have a realistic discharge plan
• Have a cognitive level of 2 or higher on the Rancho Los Amigos scale