Sinai Hospital’s new state-of-the art rehabilitation unit for patients suffering from traumatic brain injuries was designed with a strong emphasis on giving people back their independence. The 21-room unit is located in the hospital’s South Tower and includes 10 rooms of which are separated in a secure area. It employs the most advanced methods and procedures to help restore each patient’s mental, physical and emotional health. Each room features a dedicated nurse work area right inside the door, including a pass-through medication cabinet in addition to the central medication room. The traumatic brain injury unit’s staff is committed to improving the cognitive function and psychological wellness of their patients to help them make the adjustment back to ordinary life.

As part of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Brain and Spine Institute at Sinai Hospital, the Traumatic Brain Injury unit provides inpatient and outpatient care seven days a week. It was intended to bring together a diverse collection of specializations, such as neurorehabilitation, neurology, orthopedics, pain management, neuropsychiatry, neuro-oncology, and many other related disciplines.

Since the Traumatic Brain Injury Unit relocation, the unit’s overall area increased by over 50%, which has allowed space for new patient amenities centered on mimicking real-life situations. These “streetscape” elements, including an ATM, mailboxes, vending machines, and a cashier’s check-out station, help patients reorient themselves back into society. Taking this idea a step further, a new transitional care apartment was developed to allow patients to familiarize themselves with the minute details of independent living while still under staff observation. The apartment includes a kitchen, a laundry machine plus dryer, a home office space, a bedroom, and a residential style bathroom.