Costs of Rehabilitation for Traumatic Brain Injury Victims
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes physical, emotional, cognitive, and psychological damage. These injuries have a traumatic impact on TBI victims and their families. In many cases, people who suffer TBI require a lifetime of medical treatment and assisted living care. These expenses are substantial. For a TBI patient, the lifetime cost of treatment is estimated to be between $85,000 and $3 million.
Rehabilitation is a vital part of the recovery process. Healthcare professionals will help the patient learn how to adapt to living with a serious brain injury. It’s important to find a TBI accident attorney who fully appreciates the lifetime costs of TBI.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by an external force, such as a violent blow to the head or upper body or an object that penetrates the skull.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1.5 million Americans suffer a TBI, and over 230,000 are hospitalized for TBI every year.
Frequent causes of TBI include automobile collisions, slip-and-fall accidents, sports injuries, assault, explosions, construction site accidents, pedestrian accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, and truck crashes.
TBI dramatically impacts the victim’s quality of life. Effective rehabilitation enables the patient to adjust to a number of serious issues, which may include loss of employment, intellectual impairment, and a reduced capacity for self-care.
Challenges faced by TBI patients include:
- Difficulty speaking
- Paralysis
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Tinnitus
- Difficulty walking
- Sensitivity to light or smell
- Loss of impulse control
- Difficulty swallowing
- Memory loss
- Anxiety
- Vision problems
- Hearing problems
- Muscle weakness
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Reduced sense of smell
- Loss of bowel and bladder control
How Physical Therapy Can Help
Brain damage associated with TBI is permanent, as studies indicate that damaged brain tissue is not capable of regeneration. However, there are effective treatments to improve the patient’s quality of life. TBI rehabilitation emphasizes stimulating non-injured areas of the brain and helping the patient develop new skills.
A multidisciplinary team of medical professionals will develop a plan to help the patient adjust to living with TBI. This team may include neurologists, physical therapists, psychologists, case workers, rehabilitative nurses, occupational therapists, dieticians, and others.
Challenges faced by TBI patients include:
- Balance and walking
- Daily living tasks
- Problem solving
- Cognitive skills
- Memory
- Judgment
- Social skills
- Safety awareness
- Self-care
- Speaking, reading, and listening
- Accommodating a mobility aid
Rehabilitation Care for TBI Patients
Therapeutic interventions for TBI patients begin with inpatient treatment while the accident victim is hospitalized for their injuries and continue with outpatient treatment, which the patient may require long after the injury occurs. The average cost of rehabilitation for TBI patients in the U.S. is $125 per session. These treatments generally last for at least six months, but therapy may be required for much longer.
Ongoing rehabilitation for TBI may include the following interventions:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Assistive devices and technologies
- Adaptive equipment for daily living
- Home renovations to improve accessibility renovations
The High Cost of TBI Hospitalization and Inpatient Care
Hospitalization and inpatient care account for a major portion of the expenditures for TBI treatment and rehabilitation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the societal cost of TBI is approximately $76.5 billion.
On a cost-per-day basis, acute inpatient hospital services are one of the most expensive aspects of the treatment received by TBI patients. One study found that inpatient hospital treatment costs patients $1600 per day and about $46,000 by the end of their hospital stay. However, these numbers can vary dramatically, potentially leaving patients with an even larger amount to pay.
While receiving inpatient care, patients are saddled with a multitude of expenses, including:
- Room and board
- Nursing
- Food
- Recreational therapy
- Administrative costs
- Hospital maintenance
- Utility bills
The same study revealed that about 90 percent of TBI inpatient hospital costs were for room, board, and rehabilitation therapy.
Have You or a Loved One Suffered from TBI?
When you choose Butler Prather LLP, you can rely on us to work with the best economists and medical professionals to determine the true cost of your injuries. Then, our Savannah TBI lawyers will file a claim or lawsuit against anyone whose negligent behavior contributed to your injuries to help you recover the resources you need.
Our Savannah personal injury law firm has been helping accident victims for over 35 years. We’ve won settlements and verdicts for clients in over 30 states. We’ve won nine verdicts that exceed $100 million, and we’ve also won over 60 verdicts and settlements of over $10 million.
Call (706) 322-1990 to schedule your complimentary consultation today.