Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
Find your path forward after spinal cord injury.
Our spinal cord injury rehabilitation program specializes in restoration of function, whenever possible, and the process of regaining practical independence.
Where acute rehabilitation hospital settings provide foundational skills and stabilize every patient’s medical concern, QLI focuses on training and context-based repetition to help you begin life again after your spinal cord injury. Our clients are also more medically stable than in the acute rehabilitation hospital setting, allowing for a higher level of intensity, freedom to try myriad of clinical approaches in a real-world environment.
Whether returning to work, reclaiming important social and familial roles, or engaging with creative passions or physical interests, our program empowers you to live life on your own terms.
Most importantly, QLI seeks to address the needs of the individual, not soley the demands of the injury. That requires a thorough understanding of your life, your unique barriers, and your goals on the path toward recovery.
QLI’s formal therapies and the latest cutting-edge rehabilitation technology maximize your physical strength, endurance, and coordination, while functional training applies your newfound skills in a real-world environment.
Crucially, we promote neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to rewire neural connections in response to targeted repetition in context-rich environments. Simply put, our clinicians leverage the nervous system’s ability to adapt and we “tie it to the task.” The clinical team may start with simulation but our most effective therapies take place in real workplaces, in the home, or within the Greater Omaha community, where you can successfully perform true-to-life tasks just as you will long after your time in rehabilitation.
QLI Through Shane’s Eyes
Shane Hultine has a lot of stories to share. He might tell you about the time, some four months after suffering a spinal cord injury, he went camping overnight with […]
Tri-Dimensional Rehabilitation®
QLI’s Tri-Dimensional Rehabilitation® program is focused on one clear goal: to help our clients rebuild their lives after a catastrophic injury. Founded on best practices, QLI has developed a revolutionary model that addresses not only the core medical and physical aspects of rehabilitation, but is also designed to address the real-world skills and individualized interests that bring purpose and passion to our lives.
Excellent Medical Care
The foundation for all rehabilitation programs at QLI is excellent medical care. From basic health services to complex medical care, the needs of our clients are met with patience and understanding in a safe, clean environment. An expert team including QLI’s physical medicine and rehabilitation physician and team of dedicated 24-hour nursing staff continually monitor medication, nutrition, skin integrity, bowel and bladder care procedures and activity level as the rehabilitative process evolves.
Real-world rehab
As experts in applied education and real-world function, the team at QLI uses cutting-edge science and the latest in rehabilitation technology. It takes specialized techniques to build new neural pathways after injury. And as a result, our rehabilitation goes beyond simple therapy — it marries true-to-life, individualized training with intensive repetition, a process that maximizes clients’ physical and cognitive independence.
Rebuilding Hope
Emotional adjustment after injury is often one of the most challenging aspects of recovery. Led by our Life Path Services team, experiences and therapy programs are uniquely tied to passions, values and identity. For some, it involves partnering with local businesses and community resources to offer a real-world, immersive return-to-work experience. For others, it means mastering a hand cycle after a spinal cord injury so they can continue riding bikes with their kids. Every client’s goals are different but in all cases, Life Path Services encompasses everything we do to get from devastation to hope and on the meaningful path forward in their lives.
Get started.
The first step is learning where you have been, where you are and where you want to go. You may have questions, too. Let’s start the conversation.
Our admissions team will obtain all necessary medical records and verify funding. Whenever possible, an admissions liaison will conduct an in-person visit to meet with you and your family, observe therapies and carefully your circumstances to determine program eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the clinical experts at QLI responsible for my recovery or the rehabilitation of a loved one?
QLI combines experts from a variety of clinical disciplines including (but not limited to) physical therapists, occupational therapists, neuropsychologists, mental health specialists, assistive technology experts, vocational specialists, strength and conditioning coaches, nutritionists, and adaptive sports and recreation specialists.
Your team itself is tailored to your needs and individual goals. In addition, QLI assigns a dedicated group of therapists to oversee your program from start to finish, providing consistent insight and deep understanding through your entire length of stay.
Rather than work with each clinical expert in discrete sessions, you will commonly work with multiple team members simultaneously. Progress in physical therapy dovetails into your ability access adaptive sports, for example. In these instances, QLI’s flexibility gives you access to specialists as often as you deem necessary.
Can my family be involved?
Support systems are essential to the success of any rehabilitation program, no matter the diagnosis. We incorporate family members from the first day of therapy, often involving them with hands-on therapy sessions. Additionally, QLI’s Family Services team is a unique resource for all of our family needs—supporting our families in every aspect, from matters of temporary relocation to private counseling and general education regarding injury.
Does therapy take place on the weekends?
Evenings and weekends are a key time for respite and continued focus on social skills, therapy, and strength training. A variety of events take place on campus during evenings and weekends, too, including cookouts, private concerts, yoga classes, movie nights, adaptive sports events, strength and exercise opportunities, and more.
How long can I expect to be at QLI?
Length of stay is determined by a number of factors—funding source, type/level of injury, and goals of the client, family, and team. The average length of stay for clients in our spinal cord injury rehabilitation program is 131 days.
Will there be other people my age there?
Our population’s average age fluctuates based on who is being served at a given time. In 2020, the average age of a QLI spinal cord rehabilitation client was 44 years old.
Do you have a physician that will oversee my care?
QLI has a consulting Medical Director and physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, a full-time neuropsychologist, as well as consulting specialty providers who understand our population and can manage your medical needs. This includes circumstances unique to spinal cord injury—spasticity/tone, wound care, pain and bowel and bladder care.
When possible, we arrange for you to visit doctors in the community to support your return to independence. Additionally, we are happy to keep your primary care physician informed during your stay at QLI.
Contact Admissions
Patty Sanderson
Coordinator of Admissions