Admissions and Referrals

The Rehabilitation Solution Center schedules appointments for inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient medical clinic and outpatient rehabilitation.

TIRR Memorial Hermann Scope of Services & Admission Criteria

TIRR Memorial Hermann offers inpatient rehabilitation in a licensed, 134-bed, free standing acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital providing services for pediatric to adult patients.

TIRR Memorial Hermann is designed to help patients reach the highest level of independence following an injury or illness. We provide rehabilitative care for individuals with many different debilitating injuries, illnesses and other serious medical conditions.

Our patients benefit from the highly specialized care provided through our inpatient rehabilitation programs. Patients may be admitted as young as 6 months old. Adolescent patients will be admitted to the program appropriate to his/her most immediate needs. On occasion, a child younger than 6 months of age may be admitted at the discretion of the attending physician. Children who are ventilator-dependent are not routinely admitted but may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis with the attending physician.

TIRR Memorial Hermann is committed to bringing comprehensive rehabilitation services to Greater Houston, Southeast Texas as well as nationally and internationally. Although the majority of our referrals come from acute-care hospitals, we also receive referral from other sources, - including, but not limited to, physician offices and skilled nursing facilities.

Each patient admitted to the inpatient rehabilitation unit is expected to have a diagnosis/condition which is known to benefit from comprehensive rehabilitation intervention. Functional limitations may include any of the following:

• Mobility deficits
• Activity of daily living such as grooming, dressing, or bathing
• Feeding or swallowing deficits
• Speech, language, or hearing deficits
• Cognitive, perceptual and/or sensory deficits

Patients admitted for inpatient rehabilitation services* are expected to meet the following criteria:

• Must be medically stable to allow for full participation in 3 hours of interdisciplinary rehabilitation treatments. Comprehensive therapy services may include:
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech and language therapy
• Other services may include respiratory therapy and/or psychology
• Must require visits by a physician specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and 24-hour rehabilitation nursing care
• Must demonstrate potential for functional and/or cognitive improvement in a reasonable length of time
• Must have a discharge plan that provides the necessary support based on the patient’s abilities at discharge.
• Patients with acute, infections, and/or communicable disease are not routinely admitted.
• Patients must have the physical and/or mental potential to benefit from the program.
• Patients are admitted to the program in accordance with the admission procedures. The patient's degree of impairment must be sufficient to require inpatient hospitalization.

What to Look for in a Rehab Hospital

Consider the following questions when researching and visiting rehabilitation hospitals. The staff's responses can be an important factor in deciding which hospital or facility to choose.

You may also use TIRR Memorial Hermann's Criteria Comparison Tool when visiting rehabilitation facilities.

General Questions

• How many patients are at the rehab center?
• How many patients have a similar injury as you or your loved one (spinal cord, brain injury, stroke, etc.)?
• Are patients with the same conditions grouped into the same units?
• Are there patients in my age group?
• Does the facility offer a specialized program for your injury?
• What are the visiting rules and family participation policies?
• What are the rules regarding therapeutic home visits?
  • If home visits are impossible, are there model apartments for patient and family to spend time together before health transition?
• Is the center accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehab Facilities (CARF) or the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA)?
• Are there parking and other accommodations for family visits?
• How long will the patient be expected to be there?

Questions to Ask About Physicians and Staff

• Who will be the patient's physician and what is their specialty?
• Is there a doctor at the center at all times?
• How far will the patient be from a hospital?
• How often will the family see the doctor?
• Are there classes for patient and family on special needs?
• Is there someone to help with planning the transfer from the acute care hospital to the rehabilitation facility?
• Is there someone to help with health transition planning?
• How often will the patient receive physical and occupational therapy?
• Are there vocational counselors?
• Are there counselors for drugs and alcohol?
• What special psychological services are offered for patient and family?

Questions About Care After Health Transition

• Does the center have its own outpatient department?
• Is someone responsible for patients receiving follow-up care?

Rehab Hospital Activities and Environment

• Do patients eat in their rooms or with each other?
• Does the center have a planned schedule of activities?
  • If visiting, look around to see if the patients are in their beds or involved in an activity.
• Are there social and recreational activities in the evening and on weekends?

Reprinted with permission from the American Paralysis Association.