Brain Injury Intensive Outpatient Program
Each year, about half a million people are hospitalized due to brain injuries. These patients may face challenges in resuming life, work and getting involved in the community. Beacon’s Brain Injury Intensive Outpatient Program (BI-IOP) at Elkhart General Hospital can help.
Types of brain injuries
Beacon’s BI-IOP program provides specialized therapy for all types of brain injuries, including:
- Stroke (CVA)
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Encephalopathies
- Aneurysm
- Closed head injury
- Post-concussion syndrome
- Anoxia/hypoxia
- Other qualifying diagnoses involving brain injuries
Program elements
One-on-one care and therapy are part of the personalized treatment plan that guides patients back to independence and regained function and strength.
Interdisciplinary treatment team
Our team of physicians, therapists and clinicians makes us one of the leading comprehensive outpatient brain injury programs in northern Indiana. Using evidence-based treatment programs, therapists simulate real-life activities both in the clinic and in the community. These steps address the functional goals that are most important to patients.
Physical therapy
The goal of physical therapy is to help individuals improve strength, endurance and mobility. These skills help the individual safely return to activities as basic as walking, navigating steps, curbs or ramps, and more complicated tasks such as route-finding and work-related activities. The therapists use specialized equipment which may include Solo Step and Lite Gait (unweighted harness walking systems) and other unique equipment as appropriate.
Occupational therapy
When an individual has a functional limitation, our Occupational Therapists can teach individuals strategies to adapt to complete everyday living tasks with less difficulty. This includes skills such as dressing, medication management, household chores, shopping, managing finances, returning to work, and driving. We provide a therapy kitchen to practice cooking, right with the therapist. In instances when a brain injury is involved and a return to driving goal is established and considered, physical, perceptual, and visual skills are addressed. This program uses standardized screening tools and a driving simulator to communicate to the physician when return to driving is recommended.
Speech therapy
Speech therapy helps in regaining lost speech/language skills and improving cognitive function in attention, memory, executive functioning, thought processing and word-finding. In the case of swallowing disorders, compensatory strategies and therapies are added to the program.
Neuropsychologist
Mental, behavioral and emotional changes may be associated with a brain injury. The Neuropsychologist, the individual, and family members, learn to understand, adjust and cope with these changes. More in-depth testing may be recommended to help guide treatment options for the individual.
Brain injury support group
As part of this program, we offer a brain injury support group that meets once a month at Elkhart General Hospital. This group meets to help support one another and learn further how to cope, manage, and gain support when living with a brain injury. This group is not limited to those in the BI-IOP program, but available to everyone with a brain injury diagnosis who wishes to participate. If you would like to know more about these meetings, please reach out to our office (574-523-3242) to join the mailing/email list.
Who can benefit from this program?
The following individuals would benefit from this program:
- Someone with potential and need to return to an active lifestyle
- An individual who needs at least two out of three types of therapy (PT/OT/Speech)
- Those willing and able to participate in 2-4 hours of therapy, two or more times a week
- Anyone needing intensive, integrated resources and management
- An individual with no active substance abuse
Location of program
The Brain Injury Intensive Outpatient Program is only offered at Elkhart General Hospital in the Outpatient Rehabilitation Department. Talk to your health care provider or contact us for more information about this program.
Locations
Elkhart General Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Services
600 East Boulevard
- monday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- tuesday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- wednesday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- thursday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- friday 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- saturday Closed
- sunday Closed
- 574-523-3242
- 600 East Boulevard
Elkhart, IN, 46514 - Learn More