Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital (BRH), Braintree, Mass, has just opened its Outpatient Spinal Cord Injury and Disease Clinic, the only clinic of its type on South Shore, Mass.

Located inside the hospital's main Braintree facility, the clinic was established to help spinal cord injury patients continue their recovery in a multidisciplinary setting that will help them maximize their independence and wellness. The creation of the new clinic dovetails with BRH's continuum of care philosophy.

"Recovering from a spinal cord injury is a long, complicated process," said Physiatrist Heidi Wennemer, DO, director of the new clinic. "Patients with spinal cord injury have ongoing medical and functional issues that need to be addressed. Our new clinic will continue the recovery process and allow patients to regain the highest possible level of function."

Each patient at the clinic will be assigned a board-certified physiatrist, along with a treatment team that may include a physical therapist, assistive technology practitioner, case manager, occupational therapist, orthopedic surgeon, orthotist, speech-language pathologist, or urologist, depending upon the individual's needs. These professionals will work together to address a wide spectrum of health issues related to spinal cord conditions, such as positioning, skin integrity, mobility, spasticity, difficulty swallowing, and bowel and bladder problems.

Treatment services will be comprehensive, including resources for non-narcotic pain management, nutritional needs, psychosocial health, gross mobility, skin integrity, pulmonary function, neurogenic bowel and bladder function, spasticity, and sexual function. Patient and family education will be a key element to helping patients continue their recovery in their home setting.

Wennemer is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, and spinal cord injury. She also serves as the medical director of BRH's Spinal Cord Injury program. Wennemer received her doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2000.

An assistant professor at Tufts Medical Center, Wennemer has published and presented at national conferences on various topics related to physical medicine and rehabilitation, and spinal cord injury medicine.

BRH is located at 250 Pond St.

SPONSORS