Staff Qualifications

Staff's experience and training in brain injury are directly related to the quality of care that your child will receive. You need to know beforehand whether staff members have the skills and resources that your child needs.

Questions to ask about medical staff...

• Who is the medical director? How large is the medical staff and what are their qualifications?
• Is there a pediatrician?
• Is there a physiatrist (doctor specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation)?
• Is there a neurologist?
• How often are doctors there? Who is on staff, and who is a consultant?
• Which of these doctors will see my child? How often? Who will be in charge of my child's care?
• If my child needs to be rehospitalized, how are the hospital and doctor chosen?
• How are medical emergencies handled? How and when will I be informed?
• How and when will my child's community doctor be updated about my child's progress, plans for discharge, and needs for follow-up care?

There will be many others involved in your child's care each day. They include nurses, aides, therapists (respiratory, physical, occupational, and speech), social workers, case managers, psychologists, and many more.

Questions to ask about rehabilitation staff...

• What kind of training on brain injury in children and adolescents does the program require for staff?
• How many staff members will care for your child?
• Will your child have assigned nurses and therapists, and how frequently will they change?
• How does coverage vary by shift or time of day? Does the therapy schedule change on the weekends?
• What kind of licensing or certification do nurses and therapists have?
• Are specialists and consultants on brain injury available?

TIP: If therapists have reduced schedules on weekends, ask what exercises or therapies you can do with your child.