A multidisciplinary team will work with you and your child towards recovery, discharge, and appropriate outpatient recommendations following a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The following staff members may be involved in your child’s recovery and rehabilitation while he or she receives care at Duke University Health System. Select a link to learn more about how the staff member will help your child.

• Trauma physician
• Neurosurgeon
• Orthopaedist
• Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
• Nurse
• Certified nursing assistant
• Patient resource manager
• Clinical social worker
• Speech-language pathologist
• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Dietitian
• Chaplain
• Pharmacist
• Patient visitor relation
• Attendant
• Hospital teachers
• Child life professional

Trauma Physician

• Provides care to the patient from the time of arrival to the hospital, during the hospital stay, and is available for follow-up after the patient leaves the hospital
• Specializes in diagnosing and treating injuries that result from trauma
• Available to talk to the patient and family about the patient’s specific injuries, the treatment plan, and how the patient will progress

Neurosurgeon

• A doctor who specializes in the brain and may be asked to evaluate or operate on injuries of the brain

Orthopaedist

• A doctor who may be asked to evaluate or operate on injuries to the musculoskeletal system -- the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, skin, and any related structures

Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants

• Diagnoses, treats, and educates patients under the supervision of a doctor
• Prescribes medication and performs minor surgeries and procedures
• Communicates with all the individuals caring for the patient and coordinates their actions to provide the most complete and accurate care for the patient

Nurse

• Trained in caring for patients in various stages of recovery from a brain injury
• Gives personal care, medications, and ordered treatments
• Assesses the patient’s condition and reports changes to the physician
• Available to discuss the daily care of the patient

Certified Nursing Assistant

• Assists nurses in taking care of the patient by feeding, dressing, bathing, changing sheets, helping with toileting, and other care tasks
• Reports directly to the nurse with any changes in a patient’s condition

Patient Resource Manager

• Assists the patient and family with discharge planning from the hospital (plans to return home or to a rehabilitation facility)
• Helps the patient and family receive the services and care they will need after their hospital stay
• Assists patients and family with the understanding and interacting with third party payers, claims, and reimbursement issues

Clinical Social Worker

• A licensed mental health professional
• Assists the family in understanding and coping with the emotional and practical demands created by the patient’s injury
• Completes an assessment of the patient’s psychological and social history to help the team better understand the patient
• Assists families in understanding the hospital system and the resources that are available

Speech-Language Pathologist

• Provides services for problems with speaking, thinking, reading, writing, attention, memory, problem solving, and behavioral difficulties that can accompany a traumatic brain injury
• Determines if a patient has a swallowing problem and works with the patient and family to return to safe eating and drinking
• Helps patients communicate and talk (when able) when they have a tracheostomy (breathing tube in the throat)
• Teaches the patient and family the best way to communicate and answers questions about speaking, thinking, and swallowing

Physical Therapist

• Provides services to help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities
• Leads therapy sessions often focusing on improving flexibility, strength, or endurance

Occupational Therapist

• Provides services to improve patients’ ability to perform daily tasks in living and working environments
• Leads therapy sessions to help patients perform skills of daily living, such as eating, dressing, and grooming
• Helps patients regain skills or compensate for difficulties with thinking, memory, and problem solving
• Trains patients and their families to properly use adaptive equipment

Dietitian

• Assesses patients’ nutritional needs, develops and starts nutrition programs, and evaluates and reports the results
• Talks with doctors and other members of the health team to coordinate medical and nutritional needs
• If the patient needs to be fed through a tube, the dietitian or nutritionist makes sure the patient receives the correct type and amount of tube feeding

Chaplain

• A chaplain is available 24 hours a day, every day by paging 919-970-8215
• Provides spiritual assistance to patients and their families

Pharmacist

• Distributes prescription drugs to individuals
• Advises doctors and other health practitioners on the selection, dosages, interactions, and side effects of medications
• Monitors the health and progress of patients to ensure the safe and effective use of medication

Patient Visitor Relation (PVR)

• Assists in the communication process between patients and families and health care providers and, if needed, assists in navigating hospital systems
• Provides the best overall care experience of patients and families
• Gives feedback to doctors and other staff about patient issues and concerns
• Educates staff and patients about patient rights and responsibilities

Attendant

• A person who stays with a patient in his room to help him stay safe when left alone
• May encourage a patient to stay in bed, or not go out in the hallway when she has injuries or is unsteady on her feet
• May work with a patient instead of using medication or physical restraints

Hospital Teachers

• A teacher who helps children of all ages keep up with their school work while they are in the hospital for longer periods of time

Child Life Professional

• Professionals trained in child development and special education who apply their expertise to ease a child’s fear and anxiety of being in an unfamiliar setting
• Engages the child in therapeutic and recreational play activities
• Provides the important emotional and social care to make the hospital experience as pleasant as possible for both the child and the family
• Encourages understanding and cooperation by providing non-medical preparation and support for children undergoing tests, surgeries, and other medical procedures