Choosing the right rehabilitation facility is one of the most important decisions a survivor of a brain or spinal cord injury will make. That’s because the type and quality of care will have a significant impact on the patient’s long-term outcome.

A good rehabilitation center should offer the survivor of a brain or spinal cord injury a combination of specialized medical care needed to return to the highest level of function, as well as the inspiration and strength needed to cope with difficult injuries.

Ranking the Facilities

Each year, US News & World Report ranks nearly 200 hospitals in 17 specialties. Included in this list is the top ten rehabilitation hospitals in the USA for the year 2007. Rankings are obtained through a nationwide survey of board-certified physicians. In order, this year’s top ten rehabilitation facilities are:
The Rehabilitation Center of Chicago in Illinois.
The Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation, with three locations throughout New Jersey.
The University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.
Memorial Hermann-TIRR, Houston, Texas.
The Mayo Clinic’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, Rochester, Minnesota.
Craig Hospital, Denver, Colorado
Rusk Institute, NYU Medical Center, New York, New York
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, D.C.
Ohio State University Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.

Choosing a rehabilitation facility with an excellent track record of success, such as the ones listed above, will contribute to the success of the patient’s long-term outlook.