You will encounter many different people during your time at the hospital. Some are doctors, others are nurses, while others are rehabilitation specialists. It's hard to remember who does what and who is whom. Below is a list of some of the people you may encounter and their role in helping you get better. To read more about each of them and their activities, you can click on "Our Team".
Neurosurgeon: The Neurosurgeon is a medical doctor with specialized training in treating patients with traumatic brain injuries. The Neurosurgeon may have to do brain surgery to help save a person's life. The Neurosurgeons at SFGH are:
Neurologist: The Neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the diseases of the neurological system. The Neurologists at SFGH are:
Neuroradiologist: The Neuroradiologist is a doctor who reviews the X-rays, CT scans and MRI's to assist in diagnosing the patient's neurologic condition. The Neuroradiologists at SFHG are:
Neurointerventionalist: The Neurointerventionalist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats neurovascular lesions by way of angiography. They perform cerebral angiograms, vascular coiling procedures, and vascular stenting. The Neurointerventionalists at SFGH are:
Joseph English, MD
Nurse Practitioner: The Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an advanced degreed nurse who works closely with all of the neurosurgery team members to manage the neurotrauma patient. The NP has specialized skills and training in managing the care of the patient while in the hospital. The NP's at SFGH are:
Clinical Nurse Specialist: The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an advanced degreed nurse who works closely with the neurosurgery team to provide training and education to family members and staff about patients with traumatic brain injuries. The CNS also works hard to assure quality assurance and develops policies and procedures to maintain high-quality care. The CNS at SFGH is:
Christine Martin, CNS, NP
Neuropsychologist: The Neuropsychologist is a doctoral level psychologist with specialized training in working with patients with brain injuries and other neurological injuries. The role of the Neuropsychologist is to assess the cognitive skills and emotional adjustment following the traumatic brain injury. The Neuropsychologist at SFGH is:
Christina Weyer Jamora, PhD
Research Registered Nurse: The Research Nurse promotes the science of neurosurgery through the conduction of clinical research studies in which patients at SFGH participate. The research RN at SFGH is:
Michele Meeker, RN
Registered Nurse: Nurses provide holistic care to the Neurotrauma patients throughout their stay at SFGH. Registered nurses are responsible for providing all of the care for the patient while in the hospital They assess and intervene according to the patient's physiological needs. In the Intensive Care Units at SFGH, the highly experienced nursing staff cares for neurosurgical patients using state of the art monitoring equipment and current practice standards. ICU nurses give one-on-one care to the most critically ill head injured and neurologically compromised patients. Specialized assessments focus on such neurologic parameters as a detailed clinical exam, intracranial and cerebral perfusion pressures, brain tissue oxygen and cerebral blood flow measurements and electroencephalogram recording. Nurse work collaboratively with medical staff, pharmacy, respiratory, dietary, speech pathology, and physical and occupational therapy colleagues to provide best practice to the culturally and socially diverse patient population. This challenging and rewarding environment has attracted and retained healthcare professionals from around the world.
Licensed Vocational Nurse: The Licensed Vocational Nurse works with the RN in providing care to the patients.
Coach/Certified Nurse Assistant: The Certified Nurse Assistant provides brain injured patients with guidance and support with eating, bathing, and mobilization. They are a critical part of the Restorative Care Program at SFGH.
Medical Social Workers: The Social Worker helps to coordinate discharge planning and provides emotional support to the patients and family members while in the hospital. There is also a social worker who can see patients once they leave the hospital to help assist with the transition back home. The social workers you may work with are:
Trevor Towne, MSW, LCSW
Carrie Edmeades, MSW, LCSW
Tara Croan, MSW
Jeffrey Chen-Harding, MSW, LCSW
Rehabilitation Specialists: Rehabilitation Specialists evaluate and treat brain and spinal injured patients of all ages to help patients gain maximum mobility and function to regain independence. Below are the different therapists and specialists in the Rehabilitation Department.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) Physicians
Physiatrists are experts at treating individuals with disabling conditions that result from traumatic injuries to severe illnesses. Physiatrists lead a team of medical and rehabilitation professionals to help restore individuals to their maximal function.
For more information on physiatry see: American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehab
Physical Therapists
Physical Therapists (PT) improve muscle strength, joint mobility, coordination, endurance, movement, and function through exercise and modalities to reduce and prevent disabilities. Functional abilities include the ability to move in bed, to get out of bed, ambulate, climb stairs, and get in and out of cars. Therapists may utilize specialized modalities including ultrasound, electrical stimulation, TENS, traction, heat, and cold to promote recovery. What is a physical therapist?
Professionals seeking more information see: American Physical Therapy Association
Patients seeking more information see: Moving Forward
Occupational Therapist: Occupational Therapists (OT) are specialists who work to improve function in the hands and upper body and promote activities of daily living skills (ADL'S). ADL'S include things such as dressing, grooming, cooking, cleaning, managing finances, shopping, and commuting. OT's also improved upper extremity joint mobility and strength through exercise, splinting and modalities such as heat/cold and ultrasound. What is an occupational therapist?
Professionals seeking more information see: American Occupational Therapy Association
Patients seeking more information see: What is an OT?
Speech/Language Pathology: Speech/Language Pathologists work with patients with communication, cognition, voice and swallowing (dysphagia) problems. Communication includes speech, voice, receptive and expressive language, reading, writing, nonverbal communication, and alternative communication devices. Dysphagia includes diagnostic evaluation of the oral cavity, throat and vocal cords. Cognition includes attention, memory, and higher level thinking processes. What is a speech/language pathologist?
Professionals seeking more information see: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Patients seeking more information see: Communication for a Lifetime
Registered Dietician: Registered dieticians provide detailed assessments of a patient's nutritional needs and recommend appropriate dietary changes throughout their recovery.
Respiratory Therapist: Respiratory therapists are specialists who help a patient breathe adequately and are responsible for maintaining any related breathing equipment.
