What is a brain injury?
Injuries can occur to the brain in many ways. For instance, a brain injury can be brought on by medical problems such as a stroke or a brain tumor. These are called non-traumatic brain injuries. But most often, brain injuries are due to a violent blow or jarring to the head. These are called traumatic brain injuries.
If an individual has suffered a brain injury, the Brooks Brain Injury Day Treatment (BIDT) program can help.
What is the BIDT program?
The BIDT program uses a comprehensive and inter-disciplinary treatment model to help individuals who have sustained either a traumatic or nontraumatic brain injury.
“I have recovered so much faster than I thought, and thank you to everyone here!” – Brain Injury Day Treatment Program participant
The Brooks Brain Injury Day Treatment program offers therapy to help patients with brain injuries transition from an inpatient setting to their home. It was created to help improve cognition / thinking skills, communication ability, social skills and emotional lability all while one continues to regain physical abilities. The program creates a wonderful environment for growth, recovery, education and camaraderie.
“I have nothing to say except praises for my experience. The day treatment program has changed my life. My team encouraged me and taught me what I needed to know. I know now that I can do this! I will be successful in the future because I have already been successful at Brooks!” – Brain Injury Day Treatment Program participant
Who attends the BIDT program?
This program is available to anyone 16 and older who has suffered a brain injury. These injuries could include traumatic brain injuries, strokes, and anoxic brain injuries, to name a few. The individual must be able to participate in six hours of diverse therapeutic activities with the majority of the time spent in a group setting.
“Great team approach. I benefited from the camaraderie. I never realized I was isolating myself until I came here and opened up to others with the same challenges. I realized how lucky I was when I met others and the problems they faced. Acceptance without pity was a very welcome greeting.” – Brain Injury Day Treatment Program participant
What type of services are offered in the BIDT program?
After the patient participates in the program for over a week, a treatment plan is created to match the needs of the patient. This model provides the individuals with up to as many as 30 hours of therapy per week. Therapy services include individual speech, occupational and physical therapy along with psychotherapy, cognitive group-based therapies, physical reconditioning group therapies, and a support group. We also have a case manager who works with the patients and their families during their time in the program, as well as a rehabilitation technician to help with daily needs within the program.
“You all have given me the tools I need. Now it’s up to me to use them. I have loved working with you all and I highly recommend anyone that would need rehab to please come here.” – Brain Injury Day Treatment Program participant
To determine the intensity and length of treatment that will be most beneficial, care begins with a comprehensive neurobehavioral status exam or a neuropsychological evaluation. Customized therapy is then available up to five times per week. Physical, occupational, speech, cognitive rehabilitation therapy, as well as psychology and biofeedback are provided in a combination of small group and one-on-one sessions.
Through a self-rating system, 99% of the participants in this program rated themselves as significantly better than they were before entering.
When is the BIDT program?
The program operates daily Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. While the majority of the patients participate in the program on a full-time basis, some patients may participate at a reduced schedule as well. For instance, participation in the program may be reduced while re-introducing the patient to a work schedule.
Each schedule is individualized to meet your goals and will likely include individual and group based therapies. The group-based therapies form the core of the program services and provide an enriched environment to foster healing of the brain and neuroplasticity (neurological compensation of the brain). Within the 6 ½ hours that you are in the program you may receive individual speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy or biofeedback therapy depending on the needs assessed at the outset of therapy.
“Day treatment was the best part of my recovery. This program has greatly improved my concentration, mobility and many other skills.” – Brain Injury Day Treatment Program participant
The treatment team meets weekly to discuss your goals and progress. Over the course of six to 12 weeks, you spend most of your day working with highly trained therapists in consultation with our physicians to improve your memory, attention, multitasking and functional life skills.
Where is the BIDT program?
Our comprehensive approach to brain injury often begins at one of our inpatient brain injury locations, where we provide a full range of therapies and a highly trained staff experienced in every aspect of brain injury recovery.
There is also a continuum of care within the program. Three modules have been developed to address home, social and community/work skills. A patient can begin the program at any stage, depending on his or her needs.
The BIDT program is located within Brooks Behavioral Medicine at the Healthcare Plaza at 3901 University Blvd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32277.
How to contact us?
Please reach out to our case manager of the BIDT program, Erika Albertie-Young, LCSW, at (904) 345-7223. She can discuss more details of the program with you and answer any questions you may have.
“(You) have all become friends and like family as we have shared the successful recovery as well as the hardships and learned a lot along the way.” – Brain Injury Day Treatment Program participant