Spinal Cord Injury Specialty Program

The Spinal Cord Injury Specialty Program offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services. The hospital is one of only two facilities in the state to achieve national Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation for the Spinal Cord Injury Specialty Program. Integrated outpatient services provide a continuum of care through Roper Hospital's outpatient rehabilitation therapy services and the one-of-a-kind Center for Spinal Cord Injury.

 

Experienced staff

Our highly skilled interdisciplinary team provides a wide scope of services, expert care and experience with spinal cord injury population. Their proven knowledge and clinical skills help the patient, family and significant others adjust to the profound impact of disability surrounding an injury. Many of our staff serve on local and national committees and provide educational presentations for the advancement of spinal cord injury education and care. Our interdisciplinary team members have specialized training, including:

• The medical director for the Spinal Cord Injury Specialty Program, Dr. David Powell, is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, spinal cord injury and brain injury medicine.
• Dr. Jayne Donovan, board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, and spinal cord injury.
  
• Neurological clinical specialists (NCS)
• Assistive technology professional (ATP) and ASIA certification
• Certified rehabilitation registered nurse (CRRN)
• MSW Certified Case Manager (LMSW) (CCM)
  

Advanced equipment and resources

• Lite Gait© and Maxi-Sky© to assist with body weight supported gait for retraining of brain pathways.
• FES cycle system
• Xcite
• Sabo
• SMART wheel
• Dedicated gym area with specialized equipment for spinal cord injury.
• Inpatient and outpatient seating clinic to meet specialized needs for custom manual and power wheelchairs. Pressure mapping available for appropriate cushion assessment.
• Each patient receives a detailed spinal cord injury handbook.
• Weekly education classes are offered for both patients and their family/caregiver support system.
• Mentoring support and a peer mentoring program provides ongoing training for patients and their support system with both inpatient and outpatient programs.
• The Spinal Cord Injury Specialty Program is actively involved in the broader spinal cord injury community. Our staff assists with many adaptive sport and spinal cord injury awareness events.
• Community reintegration outings.
• Referrals for continued care in the community-local and regional resources.
• Collaboration with:
  • Charleston County Parks and Recreation (CCPRC)
  • Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN)
  • Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
  • South Carolina Spinal Cord Association (SCSCIA)

Contact information

If you have had a spinal cord injury or are a caregiver and would like to know more about our programs and/or interested in becoming a peer mentor, please contact:

Inpatient Program
Liz Slaughter OTD, OTR/L
Spinal Cord Injury Coordinator for Roper Rehabilitation Hospital
Elizabeth.slaughter@rsfh.com
(843) 724-2811

Outpatient Program
Emma Chambers, OTR/L, CCDT
Manager of Rehabilitation Services at Roper Hospital
Emma.Chambers@rsfh.com
(843) 724-2760

Center for Spinal Cord Injury
Jamie Hamric
Center for Spinal Cord Injury Coordinator
Jamie.Hamric@rsfh.com
(843) 724-2837

2023 Spinal Cord Injury Specialty Program Inpatient Demographics and Outcomes

• 89 patients with a diagnosis of spinal cord injury were cared for in our program.
• The average age of our patients treated following a spinal cord injury was 56.5. No adolescent patients were treated.
• Ratio of male to female: 52 male 37 female.
• The average length of stay for our patients with a diagnosis of spinal cord injury was 20 days compared to the region which was 21.6 days.
• 89.9% of our spinal cord injury patients return to the community versus another level of care. The region rate of spinal cord injury patients returning to the community was 79.9%.
• 5.6% of our patients had unplanned transfers to acute medical facilities. Region rate was 10.8%.
• 3.4% of our patients were discharged to skilled nursing facility as compared to 7.7% for the region.
• 91% of patients with a spinal cord injury that were cared for in our program rated their quality of care as excellent to very good.
• 96% of patients with a spinal cord injury that were cared for in our program rated they were very satisfied to satisfied with their goal attainment.
• Patients with a diagnosis of spinal cord injury received >3 hours of therapy 5 out of 7 days of the week.

2022 Spinal Cord Injury Specialty Program Outpatient Demographics and Outcomes

• 80 additional patients with a diagnosis of spinal cord injury were seen for intensive outpatient therapy.
• 10 patients returned to work or a vocational program.
• 5 patients returned to school.
• 100% of patients surveyed rated their quality of care as excellent.
• Patients received an average of 1-2 hours of therapy 3-4 times per week.
• Patients with a diagnosis of paraplegia received an average of 24 PT visits & 22 OT visits.
• Patients with a diagnosis of tetraplegia received an average of 20 PT visits & 24 OT visits.
• 100% of patients rated satisfaction with goal attainment as very satisfied.