Upstate Medical University, located in Syracuse, New York, is Central New York’s only academic medical center. Upstate helps both patients and the community in general through health care, biomedical research, and education. The Upstate Medical University works with many specialties and can help people treat many medical conditions. They also have several Upstate Hospital locations where medical professionals can perform surgery and other treatment options are available. If your loved one needs medical attention, read on to learn more about this option. The university has both a brain injury rehabilitation program and a spine program that could help your loved one if they have experienced trauma.

Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program

If your loved one sustained a brain injury, inpatient and outpatient treatment is available to them through the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at University Hospital. Brain injuries such as stroke, trauma, tumors, and more can be treated at University Hospital.

If your loved one suffered an acute brain injury, they can undergo acute brain injury rehabilitation. This rehabilitation will start as soon as possible after an injury is sustained. Therapists, physicians, and case managers are available to work with patients. Treatment goals include identifying and solving problems with everyday function, family and patient education, and discharge planning.

Treatment is possible through inpatient or outpatient services. Hospital based treatment is available for children and adults who have sustained a head injury and who still pose serious medical concerns. Treatment plans are arranged for those who qualify for inpatient treatment. If your loved one is trying to transition to life outside of the hospital, they can receive outpatient services. They can work with speech, occupational, and physical therapists. They can also work with case managers, psychologists, physicians, and vocational rehabilitation counselors.

Practitioners in this department include:

• Lauren E. Jackson PT, DPT
• Meredith M. Lewis PT, DPT
• Kerry Walsh PT,DPT, GCS, CEEAA
• Samantha L. Morin PT, DPT
• Adam Strizak PT, DPT
• Denali Remonda PT,DPT
• Karen L. Kemmis PT, DPT, MS, FAADE
• Katharine L. Sellers PT, DPT

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department also offers treatment for those who have sustained a spinal cord injury. Whether your loved one needs acute care in a hospital, inpatient services, or outpatient services Upstate Medical University can help. They can treat issues such as bladder and bowel dysfunction, paraplegia, spasticity, tetraplegia, and more. Treatments include:

• Gait training
• Orthotics/splinting
• Functional strengthening
• Bed mobility and transfer training
• Home program
• Wheelchair fitting and mobility
• ADL training
• Tone management
• Family and caregiver training
• Assisted and self stretching
• Equipment needs assessment
• Home modification
• Bladder and bowel management

The medical professionals that work in this program include:

• Marsha J. Eggleston
• Jean M Stewart PT
• Yvonne E Monti
• Gizelda Casella MD, PhD
• Joanne Scandale PhD, CRC, CCM, LMHC, CBIST
• Kimberly A Nemi
• Lori M. Holmes PT, DPT
• Jennifer I Spieker OTR/L
• Erin S VerDow PT, DPT
• Emily S O’Toole PT, MSPT, DPT
• Denali Remonda PT, DPT
• Kelly Ryan

University Hospitals

Upstate University Hospital has several locations in New York. There is the University Hospital Downtown, the University Hospital Community, and the Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. They also have upstate centers, which include:

• Family Birth Center
• Clark Burn Center
• Level 1 Trauma Center
• Comprehensive Stroke Center
• Upstate NY Poison Center
• Cancer Center
• Numann Center for Breast, Endocrine and Plastic Surgery
• Heart and Vascular Center
• Comprehensive Stroke Center
• Joslin Diabetes Center

Choosing a Facility

If you are searching for a traumatic brain injury or traumatic spinal cord injury treatment program for a loved one in Central New York, consider the programs at Upstate Medical University. If you would like to learn more about this facility and what they can offer, contact them. For more information about facilities in the Central New York area, feel free to contact me.