Coma emergence specialists help brain-injured patients reach their fullest recovery potential.
To be in a coma is to be literally trapped inside your body, completely unaware of your environment. The care a patient receives during this vulnerable period following brain injury is critical.
The health care professionals at University Specialty Hospital dedicate themselves to giving coma patients the kind of exceptional attention they need. The experienced staff that comprises the coma emergence team works collaboratively to help brain-injured patients function at their highest level.
Our approach to coma emergence involves using visual, auditory, olfactory and tactile stimulation. The purpose of sensory stimulation activities for comatose patients is to enrich the environment of comatose patients, counteract the adverse effects of sensory deprivation and accelerate the recovery process. Our staff also carefully monitor patients' medication and nutritional needs. By engaging the senses of smell, taste and touch, while working to improve range of motion and cognitive ability, our staff ensures each patient reaches his/her fullest recovery potential.
The Coma Emergence Program uses the JFK Coma Recovery Scale and the Ranchos Los Amigo Scale for the purposes of assessment, reassessment, treatment planning, discharge, referrals and outcome measurement.
Coma emergence specialists include neuropsychologists, physical therapists, highly-trained nurses, clinical pharmacists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists and speech language pathologists. Through the coordinated efforts of our staff, many severely brain-injured patients have become more alert and responsive to their environment than they would have without aggressive rehabilitation.
The news that a loved one has slipped into a coma can be devastating. Family members often have numerous questions, which leave them confused regarding the best course of care. An important component of the coma emergence program is family education. University Specialty Hospital involves the family in all aspects of care and rehabilitation.