Creating a Resource to Ease Spinal Cord Injury Patient’s Transition from Hospital to Home: A Doctoral Capstone Report

Abstract

Preparing a spinal cord injury (SCI) patient for discharge to home after their injury, is not an easy task for the healthcare team. The patient and their partners must learn how to manage aspects of care such as protecting the skin from pressure ulcers, transferring to different surfaces, catheterizing the bladder, managing a bowel program, and preventing complications like Autonomic Dysreflexia. The therapists at an inpatient rehabilitation facility in Ohio identified a gap in administering educational resources in a way that addresses all these needs. The capstone student created a patient manual that acts as a step-by-step guide for the topics previously listed. The goal of the manual was to provide a visual representation of skills to patients and care partners to aid in a successful transition from the hospital to home.