Brain Injury Specialist Training
February 19, 2013Recently, a group of Helen Hayes Hospital staff from our Brain Injury unit pursued credentialing to become Certified Brain Injury Specialists (CBIS), thru the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists (ACBIS).
The Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists developed this intense certification program so that therapists and other healthcare profesionals could become familiar with a broad range of issues relevant to the care of people with acquired brain injuries. This specialized training has proved helpful to rehabilitation professionals, including the staff at HHH, who wish to broaden their education and awareness in their efforts to appropriately serve persons with brain injury.
The ACBIS Certification is based on a comprehensive training manual that covers topics such as:
•Incidence and epidemiology of brain injury
•Continuum of services
•Brain anatomy and brain-behavior relationships
•Functional impact of brain injury
•Effective treatment approaches
•Children and adolescents with brain injury
•Health and medical management
•Family issues
•Legal and ethical issues
HHH staff members from nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapy, neuro-psychology and the Transitional Rehabilitation Center were selected and participated in the certification that involved weeks of home study followed by a formal examination. This certification is part of the hospital’s strategic plan for the Brain Injury unit and the eventual goal would be for all members of the rehab team to gain this additional certification.
This Certified Brain Injury Specialist certification also assists potential patients, families and caregivers in their efforts to identify excellent facilities – such as HHH – that are consistently committed to enhancing the skill and knowledge of its staff with regards the needs of those recovering from a brain injury. The overall TBI program at HHH is one of the strongest and most diversified in the nation- encompassing inpatient, outpateint, transitional and specialty services. Acquiring this specialty certification just further enhances our commitment to providing outstanding care to this patient population.
Congratulations to our staff for achieving this wonderful certification!!!!!
For additional information on brain injury certification please log onto: WWW.ACBIS.net
For info on brain injury, please also log onto: Brain Injury Association of NY: www.Bianys.org
For information on the Inpatient Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program at HHH, sisit our web site at: https://helenhayeshospital.org/hospital-services/traumatic-brain-injury-rehab/
-Jacqueline Velez, MS, PT
Clinical Program Director, Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program
