West Penn Hospital Rehabilitation Joins Pennsylvania Brain Injury Ambassador Program

The Pennsylvania Brain Injury Ambassador Program has transformed into a virtual program in response to COVID-19 and the restrictions placed on visiting hospitals. The Ambassador Program seeks to increase awareness about acquired brain injury and let people know there is hope and help available after brain injury. Brain Injury Ambassadors establish contact with families of persons who recently sustained a brain injury while they are still in the hospital, so that they can begin receiving the BIAPA Newsletter, HeadLines, and to let them know about the Brain Injury Resource Line (BIRL), which they can call if they need help in the future, after they are discharged.

Thank you to MossRehab, Magee Rehabilitation and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia who have collaborated in systematically talking with their patients about the Ambassador Program and enabling this contact.  This month, West Penn Rehab of the Allegheny Health System joined as a partner in this program, thanks to Dr. Thomas Franz and Elaine Brenneman, who serves as West Penn’s liaison with the Ambassador Program.  If other acute rehabilitation hospitals around the Commonwealth are interested in participating in this valuable new resource, please contact Monica Vaccaro, BIAPA Director of Programs at vaccaro@biapa.org.