Polytrauma Special Programs
Polytrauma Transitional Rehabilitation Program (PTRP)
The overarching goal of the PTRPs is to help participants return to the most appropriate, least restrictive community setting, by targeting skills necessary for return to home, school, work, or military service, as appropriate. They serve Veterans and Service Members with brain injury, polytrauma, and other disabling conditions. Five residential PTRPs are currently in operation at the PRCs.
The PTRPs:
- Offer interactive therapy programs designed to address the individual needs and goals of each participant and to improve their physical, cognitive, communicative, behavioral, psychological, and social functioning after significant injury or illness
- Challenge participants through a wide range of individual and group therapeutic activities and living skills practices
- Focus on community reintegration activities
- Employ teams of licensed and credentialed rehabilitation professionals who provide patient-centered, integrated care.
VA PTRPs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for residential rehabilitation with brain injury specialty programming as appropriate for the needs of the patient.
Emerging Consciousness (EC) Program
Nationally recognized rehabilitation specialists from VA developed the EC Program in collaboration with experts from the academic community and the private sector. The EC Program is a highly specialized protocol for the rehabilitation of the Veterans and Service Members who are slow to recover consciousness after severe injuries. The goal of the program is to deliver the right balance of medical and therapeutic interventions to improve the responsiveness and return to consciousness, to minimize complications, and to facilitate progress towards the next level of rehabilitation care.
The EC Program is part of the continuum of rehabilitation services offered at the 5 PRCs.
Learn more about Emerging Consciousness
Assistive Technology Labs
The Assistive Technology (AT) Labs are responsible for evaluation, development and implementation of appropriate assistive technology services, strategies, devices and/or practices to improve the functional challenges faced by Veterans and Service Members in their daily life roles. The primary AT Labs are located at the 5 PRCs.
AT Specialists administer and interpret AT evaluations in various areas of technology and provide training and education in the use of the devices prescribed. The areas of AT evaluations and training may include:
- Powered Mobility & Seating
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Devices
- Adaptive Driving Vehicles
- Specialized Computer Access
- Electronic Cognitive Devices
- Electronic Aids to Daily Living
- Adaptive Sports
- Learning Technologies
- Rehabilitation Engineering
