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

Located inside the hospital's main Braintree facility, the clinic was established to help spinal cord injury patients continue their recovery in a multi-disciplinary setting that will help them maximize their independence and wellness.

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, including positioning, skin integrity, mobility, spasticity, difficulty swallowing, bowel and bladder problems, and more. 

Treatment services will be extremely 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.

Directing the new clinic is Physiatrist Heidi Wennemer, DO.  Board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Spinal Cord Injury, Dr. Wennemer also serves as the medical director of BRH's Spinal Cord Injury program. Dr. 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, Dr. Wennemer has published and presented at national conferences on various topics related to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Spinal Cord Injury Medicine. The creation of the new clinic dovetails perfectly with BRH's "continuum of care" philosophy.

"Recovering from a spinal cord injury is a long, complicated process," said Dr. Wennemer.  "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."

More information about the Outpatient Spinal Cord Injury and Disease Clinic is available by calling 781-348-4011 or on the Web at http://www.braintreerehabhospital.com/.